way to quote wikipedia...but i guess you forgot to keep reading the article. They say that different types of melanin is found in different races, and the amount of melanin in your skin determines the color of your skin. It also says that melanin is thought to protect the body from uv light, so if a race of people are ore exposed to the sun then their skin can contain more melanin to protect the skin, and this is passed down genetically.Originally Posted by Crazy Asian