Breaking the illusion of skin color - Nina Jablonski 

Being anti-white doesn't automatically make you intelligent. LOL! Actually, being anti-white just makes you morally inept. Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white. "because of the Indians" is not a valid justification for the genocide of my race, by the way.

I actually learned something: that pale skin didn't develop just because people didn't need melanin in northern latitudes, but because people needed less pigmentation so they could absorb more UVA and therefore produce more Vitamin D. That makes more evolutionary sense.

I have to watch this for frickin science class and it's so dumb and stupid🙄🙄🙄

that obama thing was cringe

Except the fossil and genetic evidence doesn't support an out of europe hypothesis, it supports an out of africa one.

Very interesting. I am curious to learn about the evolution of the human body structure such as differences in bone structure, the texture of our hair, eye color and eye shapes, etc.

9 years later and we got BLM, gender confusion etc while Bill Burr is making jokes about it 😂

I stated we are all not the same, which science has proven through the studies of different genes predominantly found in different races. I know it's trendy to argue with anything that can be construed as racism, but what I stated is fact. This genetic information is "believed to be the cause" of the troublesome behavior shown more frequently by certain races than others. Does this mean that socioeconomic conditions don't play a role? No, but genetics may also be the cause of those conditions.

I'm pretty sure it is your OPINION that the dark-skinned woman was "repulsive" and "extream" which by the way is spelled *extreme.... I'm pretty sure your basis for calling her that was socio-cultural.... which disgusts me considering I don't think that woman was repulsive in any way... I'm sure in her culture she is considered a very beautiful woman. I would consider her a very beautiful woman.

If people "X" hadn't done "y" in history then outgroup who didn't do "y" wouldn't be the target of my fundamentally just irrational incredibly intellectually lazy disdain. Why not like, y'know, enjoy your life and use that thing between your ears to be happy. Instead of phoning it in. Try to not suck as a person. Try.

NO, it certainly does not. If you care for the beneficence of your own community you would care for the residents of whom contribute to their own likely areas of residence; we are all separated by not only skin colour but unique history, family, friends, culture etc. Can you imagine the discern if there was suddenly a white majority in a country like China?

A majority of Americans are of European descent. Most of their ancestors emigrated from Europe beginning in the 16th. However because of the growing population that is of African descent, the white Europeans will soon no longer be the majority, and it will soon be safe to say the majority of Americans are from West Africa.

"you are the product of evolution" nice ending note. And why in these comments the concept of race and racism came up is quite saddening. This speech is about evolution and how skin pigment is a result of that. not "blacks are ghetto" and "racism is anti-white" were't you people listening??? yeesh.

All? No but I read a recent poll taken that the number of people who consider themselves religious and believe the genesis version rather then evolution is growing in this country. Notice I said "rise" in my original note.

This presentation is to really counter the rise in religious people in the Genesis version of evolution, and the underlying messages that's been inserted over the centuries that God made some races better then others.

There are a lot of racism comments and this video wasn't even about racism. Yes, it was mentioned. Mrs. Jablonski was trying to explain the evolutionary reason for skin pigmentation as the main purpose.

But we know now that the theory that humans began in Africa is no longer valid because of the human remains found in 2010. So most subsequent theories are also not as accurate or important.

It's unfair to say Darwin "didn't want to consider the UV rays". The sciences were just borning, and Darwin made a predictable hypotesis based on an almost perfect theory, but without the capacity to get all the necessary information.

If science is to truly birth the knowledge of higgs, won't it be out of the consolidation of both colors? Or does that even matter?

Im calling the Japanese who supports that racist. Anyone making claims based on a false belief of racial differences are per definition racists, don't cry about being called one if you do.

You are making a poor distinction there: Who is black? Who is white? Notice that the woman in this talk refused to use those terms, as there are no human races: we are all mixed up.

Eskimoes have dark skin because they mainly live on fish, which contains high rates of vitamin D, it has worked as a substitute.

Serious anyone who makes a racist comment in this video , either should stupid or a short time memory loss patient.

Reading the comments I thought this was going to be stupid, Now realize the commenters are stupid.

education :) no for real. i search some legit bloodline (do you say it that way) link blocked that seems pretty ok to me. thats the way it was tought to me

Great talk! Very well presented. I had never thought of considering my skin's needs in my overall health. Interesting.

Huh, why is the universe in a vacuum of black? Why not a vacuum of white?

i dont know where the hell you got that from this video but you're wrong overall.

hey, i'm sorry that youre losing the strangle-hold of the world power. really thats so sad for you

Its amazing, different races allow each other to feed each other, clothe each other, entertain each other, laugh and cry together and yet somehow they still feel there is a race to win, whether its a beef dog, or a hot burger. It's really only the shape of the idea that changes and how it responds to the differences of change. Tradition, like that of concrete is only as strong as its foundation of flexibility. Too rigid and it all just crumbles.

I am a university professor who is teaching courses that center on race and this TED talk is a part of our course this semester. Looking forward to it.

Well, I don't understand what you think is repulsive about that woman.

You! Yes you! Send this video to a rascist person you know, if you know one of course.

you are lost, this is not the Pokemon section...

you are lost, this is not the Pokemon section...

I don't know why, but this seems racist to me somehow...

Silly people ... skin colour or not. Race still exists.

I was expecting her to also talk about how evolution by natural selection is no longer acting on humans, because most people don't understand that modern life and the ability to find food and shelter for most has diminished the effect of natural selection. She could have also mentioned the time scales in which the evolution of skin color would take place. Most of my friends find it hard to believe that 70,000 years is enough. Although its equal to about an incredible 2500 generations!

You're right. I meant UV radiation actually effecting the population of today. Maybe some people are less healthy now from vitamin d deficiency but other factors like socio-economic etc. as you said are what makes the difference today.

Its Not MORE important, Celebrate all your traits, Take Care of your body, Overall we should be proud we've made it this far. The skin is just one of the most noticeable traits we carry

....frustrating, isnt it?

except thats not what she is talking about.

Hey, American are from Asia not Europe. -_-

Conclusion: _Dont forget for sunbathing guys :D_

the human race. That is all that matters...

But evolutionary history is full of examples of things that atrophied due to disuse. Although in this case there are different positive influences, the lack of one doesn't necessarily make less sense.

Damn, this woman can talk. Another great TED video.

The palm of the hands and the soles of the feet bear witness to your testimomy

So if one cannot be quantified without two and black cannot be quantified without white, what is the purpose of both as it pertains to the idea of thought from both sides?? Knowledge just loops its own emotions no matter what color... does it not

Oh and as an example of my point, take a look at the papua new guineans. These people look like africans, with dark skin and very curly hair, but they genetically cluster with south east asians. Just by looking at them you would think they are the same as Africans, but genetic evidence has showed otherwise. There are other populations that show this genetic clusterring as well even though they are very different. Race is a social construct, and when environment is accounted for, diff. go away.

All humans drink the same water and breathe the same air. Excrete the same water and exhale the same air. Redrink the same water and rebreathe the same air. The only difference is knowledge and that is the formidable indifference of the filter type..

Sexal reproduction is the best evolution tool. This also tell us why genetic diversity is important. Imaging all dark skin gene are gone, human may never be able to living in the tropical area without proper protection. Same concept also work in thinking: Thinking diveristy

Look at absolutely any sci-fi movie or book or game. Anything that tells of our future. We stand united as humans, not divided as nations and races. Before we can turn our eyes outwards into the skies and beyond, we must turn inwards to face these borders we make for ourselves.

I assumed that you were using the dictionary definition of genocide "The deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation". And what's wrong with becoming a minority? All ethnic groups but one must, by definition, be minorities and they seem fine.

'sepia rainbow' i love that

Hmm, so non quantitative logic would say anti-white can still exist even with no opposing colors?

To be honest however, I cannot really guess how long it would have taken if vitamin D was not a factor. For example, looking at the variation in dogs pigmentation after humans took the pressure off of them to blend into the forest and you could say it could happen quickly. But I don't know how inherently variables people are.

You should change the title, or at least change the word 'illusion' to 'evolution'! Because nowhere in this presentation does she suggest skin color is an illusion!

What studies are you referring to? Most peer reviewed studies i have found, find the genetic differences in humans among groups to be negligible and has no basis for the way one acts. The overwhelming majority of scientist do not find the term "race" as a valid taxonomic term and the very idea that race causes behavior or intelligence has been proven to be wrong.

What would you say to the Catholics with a more fundamental belief? Would you tell them their world-view is fictional? I was raised super-Catholic and growing up in a catholic school system, I perceived myself as more religious than average among my classmates. I tended to think heavily on my faith from curiosity about the world and the desire to know more about the supernatural "reality" that (I assumed from birth) existed beyond this life. Did you also at a time hold a fundamental belief?

I think she missed a great occasion to make a point here. It's not like Vitamin D deficiancy is a problem only dark-skinned people can have. If you are doing desk job all the time too you may lack vitamin D. A good solution would be to fortify some popular foods with vitamin D.

If partners have different ethnic and racial backgrounds, their offspring have better chance of developing stronger and wider immunity. Also, personal standards of beauty and attractiveness are partially result of our evolutionary heritage. Compare the looks of people coming from northern, isolated communities of "purer" blood, to the looks of people that come from "mixed" blood communities and tell me which are better looking, according to your personal standards of beauty.

Yep, I get that, but does it actuallydeflects more closer to pole? And if yes - then why? I mean - it's possible to get what they've pictured on the actual Pole, but a long-long distance between equator and the pole still should get a lot of UVB, doesn't it? ANd the show like UVB is only available to the belt of the Earth.

What about the Asian skin evolution? They are (the Japan at least) in the same range of radiation that Africa, right!? I don't remember of great migrations there (they also were closed to foreigners for a long time). I don't think it is hard to produce a drug to regulate melanin production, especially if it is a health issue. Anyway, we are able to guide our own evolution.

The lesson that I received from this entire video, was that there is NOT one person on the face of this earth without African DNA in them. NOT ONE.

Don't forget the others. Mammals generally share with us the things that we believe make us "human." The characteristics that people consider most "human" are found in other species as well. However, the way they communicate, express emotion, etc is unknown to an average person due to the general lack of real experience with animals. Love, forming essential bonds and relationships, working with others, communicating VITAL information, 2 different sets of 2 identical limbs, having a FACE, etc

Ah, so one day the color blue accidentally stumbles into red's social energy field. Blue then thinks how does this make it feel to be so out of place? Feelings like, scared, confused, nauseated, faint, aroused, excited, angry, mad and just plan overwhelmed, were some of them just to name a few. Blue then asked itself why did it feel that way? Blue then replied, it didn't know..

How is this an illusion? Skin colour is largely due to levels of melanin in the skin as a result of the climate in that area. What's the mystery here?

But there are articles out there on the subject and why they seem to be the exemption. I mean you could have easily typed in "Why are the Inuit people dark skinned?" and had your answer.

I HAVE EVOLVED!

Well, basically, the ozone layer in our atmosphere deflects most of the radiation back into space. Some radiation is able to get through but not enough to cause any sort of damage. The Ozone has just broken it down enough for us to withstand it and still feel the heat off the sun

Im curious. If there is so little UV radiation near the poles then why are the Inuit peoples quite tanned skinned?

yea, they were a branch, but they did mix with homo sapians at verious occasions and today, evey homo sapian has between 1-4% neanderthal genes. i dont know what made u comment that way, but i thought, hmmm, maybe you dont kno this, so i should ensure that you do know it.

Really? I was going by the dictionary definition, "The deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation". Anyway, that definition still does not apply to the situation being discussed.

I'm not entirely sure about this part but I think it's because the radiation hits the northern and southern parts of the Earth at an angle. So this makes the UVB dissipate as it enters. Since it's at an angle entering the Ozone, it has a longer distance to travel to hit the surface than hitting the Ozone dead on (like at the equator.). It's kinda like bouncing an object off a round ball. Hit it dead center and it will return to you. Off center and it'll deflect. I think anyway.

adaptation is an individual in a species changing its behavior to better survive in its environment. evolution is the species as a whole changing over time.

the pendulum of what is the right balance in life is always swinging one side or other of perfect. it did spent 'quite a long time' swung the other way, remember? Maybe one day humans will look more than 6 inches into the future and the pendulum will be still, perfectly at the right restng place....or be ashes. either way, keep hopeful and positive friend - its what drives us all forward!

very much so. *shakes head in disappointment at the youtube community represented by these commentors*

Are you saying the first ancestors of Humans were not from Africa ?

Huh, so was the civil war visually based, linguistically based or economically based?

Everything made sense up until the "he's white" part. You lost me there. I thought he was half white.... which makes him neither white or black.

Nope, but you sure got the attention you seeked. Good job troll. 1000000000000000000000000000000000/-20

Mmmmm I'm going to go with the lady with a Phd in Anthropology, field work and multiple scientific publications on this one.

7:36 - Is it true? Really - half of the radiation is just passing by? It's not a joke? I need somebody to explain me that.

Your comment, brings hope!

Perhaps the UV was amplified by being reflected by the white snowy terrain.

firstly, trying to bolster you're arguments by spell checking is just silly, secondly yes it is mu opinion based on my culture, however i doubt many cultures find her attractive, rather just primitive and extreme. besides the picture was a poor choice regardless, when she is speaking about pigment, showing such a "diverse" woman distracts from the point

more like they were cast out...away from the sun's natural resourcefulness

Lol, i hope me and my black girlfriend make you mad, i really do.

So the philosophy of "Eugenics" didn't come out of Darwinism???

This is fascinating. :)

Excellent video. Love Ted Education. Always informative. Now on the other hand the bulk of the comments under This video are nonsensical and do not belong in an area where intelligent minds meet. Take your ignorance elsewhere to those who are so ill informed they will swallow your nonsense.

what?? did u read my comment or are u just going around doing this to random comments?

What i mean is the natives. Who originally own the land.

The speaker if had dark complexion would look like a srilankan.

Wow. I'm a product of evolution :)

You're right, of course; I just didn't think reduction in melanin was the same thing as atrophy. I guess it is, though.

has she heard of vitamin tablets...

I'm from south east asia, tomorrow I'm gonna go out of the house.

Haha.. your channel feed is prove enough for me to not convince.