Were the first humans white?

[jadefoxdragon]

After learning that we all came from Africa I thought that the first humans where black. And that is fine, of course. But after thinking more I'm starting to think they were white. After all why would humans suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin? It makes more sense that their skin became dark over time because they lived in Africa. Does that make sense?

[jiajia1987]

I guess we can think of evolution. There are some evidence saying we evolved from ancestors related to monkeys, chimps and so on. They ain't white, are they?

[luisillo]

Evolution isn't a one night process. It is gradual to the point it is imperceptible but its always there. Also it affects populations not individuals.

Originally Posted by jadefoxdragon

After learning that we all came from Africa I thought that the first humans where black. And that is fine, of course. But after thinking more I'm starting to think they were white. After all why would humans suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin? It makes more sense that their skin became dark over time because they lived in Africa. Does that make sense?

Following your logic, and the fact I stated, the first humans should have been black. The darkening of the skin had to be inversely proportional to the gradual loss of body hair . Of course, it took many generations for this to happen.

[foxdragon]

First I want to say I don't care if the first humans were black or purple with orange spots. I know there is racism in the world and a lot of people can't accept the first humans being black because of that. I am not racist and I am totally fine with it if that is the case. (which it probably is)

To respond to some comments ... chimps and monkeys are not white, but that is the color of their body hair. Underneith the hair aren't they pale skinned? Because the sun does not get to the skin with the hair....

The general loss of body hair does make sense, but why would the first animals born into a hot climate have body hair? Dinosaurs didn't have body hair. Wouldn't body hair evolve over time? Maybe an animal evolved body hair and then lost it as it evolved again.

I know if you are in a sunny climate your skin will evolve dark (through generations not in your lifetime) and if you have less sun like in northern climates you will lose the color because your skin needs to absorb what little sun it gets.

[Vadim Galiev]

I think that all persons were white, but at Africa some people accepts some adaptation as black skin
Foxdragon
You must passes your thinking about racism. Remember, that in the world there are many country where never was racism (Russia, for example)

[luisillo]

First of all, I'm surprised that this thread is still alive. First of all, I'm biologist so races do not mean nothing but genetic diversity to me (which means I'm not racist).

Originally Posted by foxdragon

chimps and monkeys are not white, but that is the color of their body hair. Underneith the hair aren't they pale skinned? Because the sun does not get to the skin with the hair....

I've never seen the skin (underneath their hair) of a monkey or chimpancee. In the case of dogs however, the skin of parts where dark hair grows has a purplish color, while the skin of parts where light color hair (white, light brown) grows has a light pink color. This resembles the skin of humans: dark color skins tend to purple while light color skins tend to pink.

Originally Posted by foxdragon

The general loss of body hair does make sense, but why would the first animals born into a hot climate have body hair?

In first place, we do not know for certain if africa was a cold place when the first hominid appeared. In second place, evolution is random, so what you state can happen, it might not survive for long though. In third place, following what you say then why cheetas, lions, zebras, hyenas, etc.; have hair if they inhabit a hot climate (savana).

Originally Posted by foxdragon

I know if you are in a sunny climate your skin will evolve dark (through generations not in your lifetime) and if you have less sun like in northern climates you will lose the color because your skin needs to absorb what little sun it gets.

[yaracuy]

Originally Posted by jadefoxdragon

After learning that we all came from Africa I thought that the first humans where black. And that is fine, of course. But after thinking more I'm starting to think they were white. After all why would humans suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin? It makes more sense that their skin became dark over time because they lived in Africa. Does that make sense?

Suppose modern man come from the middle east which he is tanned brown,
then some have moved south they become black . And some moved north and they become white

[mmorgan]

Originally Posted by jadefoxdragon

After learning that we all came from Africa I thought that the first humans where black. And that is fine, of course. But after thinking more I'm starting to think they were white. After all why would humans suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin? It makes more sense that their skin became dark over time because they lived in Africa. Does that make sense?

There's a problem with your logic here, because humans didn't "suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin".

Remember that evolution occurs over long period of time and if humans first emerged in Africa it's likely that their pre-human ancestors were already adapted to living in an environment with high UV exposure.

Perhaps when early humans moved out of Africa there was reduced selective pressure for genes that give strong skin pigmentation so that over time these genes were lost from the populations that moved into Europe and Asia.

[johnwilliam23]

Originally Posted by mmorgan

There's a problem with your logic here, because humans didn't "suddenly come into the world fully protected from the sun with dark skin".

Remember that evolution occurs over long period of time and if humans first emerged in Africa it's likely that their pre-human ancestors were already adapted to living in an environment with high UV exposure.

Perhaps when early humans moved out of Africa there was reduced selective pressure for genes that give strong skin pigmentation so that over time these genes were lost from the populations that moved into Europe and Asia.

I am satisfied with your answer.