I bet you didn’t see this one coming. Neither did I. Blacks with naturally blonde hair? That’s strange for those of us who have never heard of such a thing.
We often wonder why some black women or colored women choose blonde dyes, extensions*, etc to “compliment” their skin. Some people say some blondes are a bit extreme for certain skin tones, but you can no longer say that blonde hair does not belong to blacks as well.
In Melanesia, about a quarter of the population has dark skin and blonde hair. This has baffled experts for years. It is said that outsiders might have something to do with this, but the locals insist that it is just a mutant gene. They also say it is because they eat a lot of fish and have constant exposure to sun.
The thing is, many of the children are born with blonde hair, who might have just been exposed to their mothers milk and very little sun.
Pinterest.com
The next question you might think to ask is: Are they even considered black?! Well, yes, of course they are. They are actually black islanders and Africans of the Solomon Islands, that just happen to have blonde hair.
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that historically people believe that naturally blonde hair is from Europe. Because Melanesia is far away in proximity to Europe, how could they also have blonde hair?
If Europeans had a hand in their make up it would be only because recent studies show that all humans outside of Africa have certain genes that have been passed down from Neanderthals.
Melanesians are the only ones prehistorically known to have unique ancestors, interbreeding with Neanderthals, which is a pretty plausible explanation.
Interesting, right? Regardless of how they got their blonde hair, the Melanese are striking and absolutely beautiful, and they teach us a very valuable lesson on judgement, culture, and race.
Additionally, if you notice the structure of the strands on each head is much different without any man made manipulation. They seem to be mostly in the 3 category with some people having straighter blonde hair in comparison to some with tighter curls.
Some things just cannot be explained as much as we try to explain them, and in this case there should be no need for an explanation. I guess the moral of the story is we are not all destined to look the same, but we are all beautiful in our own right.
True Lyhs says
We are beautiful blondes
Jamila Kelly says
… while that was very informative and these people are very lovely it has nothing to do with people who bleach their hair for vanity purposes o.O;;;
Barbie says
Many who decide to bleach their hair blond often get criticized & told that blond dont go with black skin. thats someof the moral of this article. It is proving that somewhere in the world black blondes exist.
Patricia Powell says
Wow ! Beautiful
Dantevias Lawson says
You could post a variety of articles explaining this and people will still argue about it, people only believe what validates their perception.
Nicole Maye says
We are All beautifully and wonderfully made. God showed us the Many ways and features He could give to His creation.
Lucie Jorite says
Some of my ancestors are from Salomon islands. My brother and nephew were blonde. And one of my cousins is blonde. I love how different in colors and shape we are in my family and in the world in general
Jamie Carter-Bailey says
Totally agree my diverse play3d a role in my family im the only one out of my siblings with green eyes and sandy brown hair (which I constantly dye black)
Lucie Jorite says
Black hair does suits your eyes. Ive recently discovered that we had french, celtic, chinese,salomon,african, and carribean origins. My family is like the different colors of a paint. 🙂 I bet yours is as beautiful. Diversity is precious.
LeeLee Petty says
Ms. Lucie Jorite I can see it in your features♡
Elisa Evra says
Interesting
Iesha Littleton Moranda says
Just because u bleach ur hair does not mean its for vanity purposes.. i find most people color their hair as an expression of who they are or how they feel at the moment…. I ve been doing hair for 22 years and i have never had a client to tell me i want a new color because i wanna fell pretty… most of them are expressing their creative side…. they want something new and different….
Gina Liv says
Right on point
Iesha Littleton Moranda says
i also find that black girls who are born with blonde or red hair tend to dye their hair darker because they are looking for something different as well…. my little cousin and her daughter both have blonde hair and she changes her color often always going darker but remaining bright like pink, mahogany even green…. #HAIRisART
HenriShe Gross says
They are so cute
Tajmah Jessika says
Why does it matter if people bleach their hair for vanity purposes? How someone feels good about themselves does not concern anyone but themselves
Tina Day says
A mouthful HUNNNAY!
Sandra Brooks says
Thank you guys for putting this out. Tired of arguments with morons
Erika Brown says
Oh wow! They’re beautiful!
Donna says
This information regarding Black people around the world (found on all the continents) having natural blonde, red, brown, black hair, as well as, having naturally, kinky/coily, curly, straight hair is nothing new. Some of us attending HBCU and/or attending lectures featuring Dr. Clarke, Dr. Ben, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Ashra Kewsi, Dr. Runoko, etc. have seen the pictures, artifacts, etc. regarding Black people around the world, their culture, style, etc. Check out Dr. Runoko’s Facebook page & like it because every day he is posting pictures regarding Blacks around the world & yes Black women have always worn kinky hair, straight hair, braids, wig-like pieces, color, etc. All you have to do is look at the mummies, ancient pictures on the walls, artifacts, etc. Plus I’ve met Black females myself living overseas with darker complexions having fiery-orange colored hair & they were native to the country. Also, the blonde hair found on the Melanese people are not the same as European blondes..http://facts.randomhistory.com/blonde-hair-facts.html…………..
“The gene responsible for blonde hair in Melanesia is different from the European blonde gene”
Tina Day says
I love their TEXTURE of HAIR
Patsy says
While they are gorgeous, they are not African or Black in terms of race. http://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html To be black, racially, one must have origins in the black racial groups of AFRICA. The people of the Solomon Islands are more closely related to the aboriginals of Australia; which despite skin color being similar to the racial groups of Africa– are a different race. The US sadly doesn’t have a unique classification for them, which in part stems from the small number of people who would classify as such. The aboriginals and the people of the Solomon Islands have been isolated from Africa genetically longer than Europeans and Asians have been.
David Adams says
3 wise men stopped off about 5000 years or so ago and replaced the population with children of theres this is easy to understand.
Anonymous says
Luv it!
Anonymous says
SO freaking beautiful!
Anonymous says
Beautiful
Anonymous says
Almost all Melanese people have blonde hair not just their children.
Anonymous says
According to what has been written about them, their hair changes from blonde to dark during adolescence.
Anonymous says
For all the haters bashing Amanda Seales on the Bet show, please get to know your history. Africans can have blonde hair. Stop criticizing women of color when they go blonde. It’s in our DNA and it’s our choice.
Anonymous says
#GORGEOUS
Anonymous says
This beautiful child. That smile!
Anonymous says
Beautiful ppl!!
Anonymous says
I like these people
Anonymous says
Yes l am aware…
Anonymous says
Gorgeous
Anonymous says
Beautiful hair
Anonymous says
My natural color is sandy blonde as I got older my hair darkened.
sabrina says
we are all the same,black ppl without white have all colour variations of white and same is true of orientals.white ppl tan and dark skin blackest hair also.its just a culture of ppl in history was very barbaric,somewhere in Europe and ppl idolized this way of life and their free Viking type culture.they aren’t like that today but north American tv idolizes power and the looks attributed to it.oh the greeks perfection ideas also.this just shows we turn out the way we do by migration.thats all.all these variations are the majority of the world with the darker ……so why is there racism……
Pasi says
I am a Solomon Islander. As I read through your post I would like to make a correction you mentioned “melanese” I like that. However, the correct term is “Melanesian” and yes we are the black people from the islands. Our ancestors are linked back to 3000-4000 yrs back. Even though, I do not have a blonde hair type most of my relatives do. But, I still have that gene and maybe my future kids will have the blonde hair (sometimes it might skip a generation). Also, I want to say thank you for sharing the post about the Melanesian people. Not many people around the world know us.