Natural redheads are rare, making up less than 2% of the population, but what’s even rarer is redheads who are also Black. Now you might think most redheads have fair skin, but it isn’t always true. BlackAmericaWeb.com broke down the origins of Black people with red hair and it’s quite fascinating:
Since we know both parents have to carry the red hair gene for a child to be born with it, it is believed the gene found its way into the African community in the Caribbean over 400 years ago. Many Irish and Scottish people were sent to the West Indies as indentured servants in the 1600s and (as we know) over a third of Irish/Scottish people carry the redhead gene.
Some Black redheads may have darker skin and others may have lighter skin, this all depends on their family background, if they are mixed race, and how their melanin develops.
Another reason we may see red hair in Black people is due to Albinism. Albinism is a lack of melanin and this could cause someone who would normally have darker hair, skin, and eyes to have light reddish-golden hair and even blue eyes.
One thing we know for sure is that red hair is beautiful in all its forms and Black redheads are truly stunning humans.
Rock it like a Redhead!
