Why People Still Mythesize about Sicilians' 'Black Blood'

I am 1/2 Sicilian and 1/2 Calabrian, and I carry 20% North African DNA. While I lack Caucasian features, my blue eyes and pale olive skin are my own. My great-grandmother was more Sub-Saharan African in appearance, but I didn't inherit her traits; my sister did. DNA is a mysterious and complex mechanism that doesn't always align with ancestral appearances.

Dissecting the Myth: Why Some People Demarcate Races

People who insist on categorizing others by race are often perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Primarily, they introduce these discussions because they believe racial distinctions impact someone's worth or capabilities. This is a form of racism, a deeply ingrained belief system based on the inferiority of one race over another. The average European carries between 1-3% African ancestry, and Sicilians are no exception.

Historical Context: The Greek-Roman Influence and Beyond

It is widely known that Ancient Greeks influenced much of Italy, notably Rome, which was initially a small Italian kingdom. However, Roman culture, including art and science, was deeply influenced by Greece post-conquest. This intermingling of cultures is reflected in the Roman poet Horace's famous line, "When the Romans became more Hellenized than Greece was Hellenizing them." Typically, colonizers exert more cultural influence on the colonized, but this is not the case with the Greeks and Romans.

The Rise of Racial Myths and the Impact on Society

In the 16th century, some light-skinned Europeans, influenced by a newfound interest in early human achievements, started believing in a superior race that existed long before dark-skinned civilizations. This romanticized view led to the idea that fair-skinned Europeans had a distinct, noble history of elders among humanity. The rise of DNA science has debunked this myth as nothing more than a preconceived notion with tragic consequences.

Throughout history, darker-skinned individuals, including Europeans with dark skin, were often seen as inferior by the majority of light-skinned Europeans. This pseudoscience was used to justify the mistreatment and discrimination of darker-skinned people. This led to complex tragedies such as the Holocaust, various forms of apartheid, and the enslavement of millions of Africans. Not only did these horrors diminish the human race, but they also created a second-class citizen status for people with darker skin, which encompasses 80% of the global population.

The Truth about Genetics and Racial Myths

Blond and fair-skinned individuals are a minority in the human population. The prevalence of light-skinned, blue-eyed genetics is relatively recent, arising only within the last 6,000 to 10,000 years. Darker genes are dominant, making fairer genes recessive. This means that while light-skinned individuals may be a younger branch of the human family, we are all part of the same family.

In the 19th century, as science began to uncover the history and origins of humanity, German anthropologists attempted to support a separate origin theory by fabricating archaeological artifacts. Their efforts were eventually exposed, but misunderstandings about race continue to persist due to a lack of knowledge and education.

Challenging the Legacy of Racism

The belief that darker-skinned individuals are inferior has served as a guise for slavery and discrimination. Those who perpetuate such myths often insinuate a hidden racist agenda into conversations. Such ignorance and aggression need to be addressed and countered. It is crucial to recognize the truth: humanity is one family with a shared African origin. All Homo sapiens descended from an original African diaspora, making the assertion of racial inferiority or superiority not only false but also harmful.

Through education and understanding, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable society. All homo sapiens are African in origin, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and celebrating our shared heritage. DNA science has proven that racial myths are nothing more than misguided beliefs that have caused immense harm over the centuries.