Melanin theory

{{Race}}
'''Melanin theory''' is a [[racist]], [[pseudoscience|pseudo-scientific]] idea that high levels of the pigment melanin give a person a multitude of special abilities. According to this "[[Bullshit|theory]]" melanin is present in nearly every organ of the human body, and the amount of it in the skin is correlated to the amount of it in other areas, especially the [[brain]]. Therefore, because melanin is present in higher levels in black skin than in white, [[black supremacy|black people are superior]] to white people. In fact, white people are considered degenerate, [[albino]] mutants by the proponents of this theory.

==Alleged properties of melanin==
The following is a list of the alleged special properties of melanin. It is certainly not complete - since the theory has no actual scientific backing, melanin pretty much has any properties that the proponent wants it to have, thus it seems to make you a superhero.

*Natural superconductive properties. The reality is that it is a semiconductor.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20081204120527/https://smithsonianchips.si.edu/proctor/index.htm</ref>
*Chemical basis for the [[soul]].<ref>http://suzar.com/BOTW/BOTW-ch5b-pages55-56.html</ref>
*Bestows physical prowess.
*Bestows higher intelligence.
*Bestows higher "spiritual awareness." 
*Converts [[radiation|light and electromagnetic waves]] to sound.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20031024141920/https://www.sankofa.ch/texts/Melanin.htm</ref>

== Actual purpose of melanin ==

{{more sources}}

[[File:Pheomelanine.svg|thumb|right|Pheomelanin]]

There are many chemicals that are melanins, including eumelanin, pheomelanin, trichochromes and neuromelanin. Both eumelanin and pheomelanin are found in human hair and skin. Melanins are found in many organisms, including animals, [[plants]] and [[fungi]]. Eumelanin is the primary melanin in human skin.<ref>Alaluf et al. (2002) "Ethnic Variation in Melanin Content and Composition in Photoexposed and Photoprotected Human Skin", ''Pigment Cell Research'', 15(2): p. 112–118. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.1o071.x/full</ref> The primary function of eumelanin and most melanins is to protect against [[solar]] [[radiation]]. In humans, [[cells]] called melanocytes produce melanin that is inserted into other cells via melanosomes. The melanosomes accumulate adjacent to each cell's nucleus, where they protect the [[DNA]] within the nucleus. This is the reason that people with ancestry near the equator have darker skin than those with ancestry closer to the poles. People living near the equator need more sun protection (because there is more solar radiation), and people living closer to the poles need more sun exposure to produce more [[vitamin D]] (which is endogenously produced in humans from sun exposure). The need for vitamin D vs. the need for protection against solar radiation also explains why lighter-skinned people's skin darkens (tans) after prolonged sun exposure. Neuromelanin is found in the brain (especially the substantia nigra, which gets its name from the darkened appearance of dopaminergic neurons as a result of their neuromelanin concentration). The exact function of neuromelanin is unclear, but it is thought to be involved in mitigating oxidative stress and is known to bind to metals and other toxic compounds that would otherwise cause neurodegeneration. <ref>Tribl, F; Asan, E; Arzberger, T; Tatschner, T; Langenfeld, E; Meyer, H. E.; Bringmann, G; Riederer, P; Gerlach, M; Marcus, K (2009). "Identification of L-ferritin in neuromelanin granules of the human substantia nigra: A targeted proteomics approach". ''Molecular & Cellular Proteomics'', 8(8): 1832–8. https://www.mcponline.org/article/S1535-9476(20)34012-3/fulltext</ref>

==See also==
*[[Afrocentrism]]
*[[Black supremacy]]
*[[Dogon people]]
*[[Racialism]]

== External links ==
*{{wpa|Melanin theory}}
*[http://www.csicop.org/si/show/magic_melanin_spreading_scientific_illiteracy_among_minorities Magic Melanin: Spreading Scientific Illiteracy Among Minorities], Bernard Ortiz De Montellano, ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', Volume 16.2 (1992)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Racism]]

Categories: Pseudoscience, Racism