Why do some "white" people have dark colour skin and some non-whites have pale skin?

Question

Many Chinese and Japanese have skin colour whiter than many Caucasians. On the other hand, many southern europeans such as Spanish people have darker skin than those Chinese and Japanese, but they are considered "whites". What is the definition of a white person?

Answer 1

Caucasion: of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features -- used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation

Answer 2

It is a historical thing, the mediterranean types have long history of intermarriages wth people of African descent, Africans had a huge presence in places such as Greece and Cyprus hundreds of years ago, if those dark skin whites were to trace the family tree back a few centuries they would soon find an African grand parent several hunred years removed from them in 2006. You see the same thing in Latin American countries such as Brazil, its historical and the dark skin traces are there,and Vice versa, but hey what abeautiful mixture that is! You bet !

Answer 3

You may not get a good answer on this one. Someone will undoubtedly give the "census" definition of being from Europe or European descent, As well as the Middle East and North Africa which is soooo wrong). But that doesn't REALLY explain things. Look at Mariah Carey, Wentworth Miller and Kit Shapiro. You'd look at them all and think white. But are they? The "one drop rule" says they are mixed.

And you know what? The whole issue of race is mixed, too -mixed up, that is.

Answer 4

We should stop labeling people according to skin color, it's a cultural thing. People of all races have different tones because of mixed marriages/relationships. There are blacks that are very dark and some are much lighter. It's all due to blood line and pigment of skin tone.

Answer 5

Caucasian.

Answer 6

well to anwser your first q. it has alot to do with ones Nationalitys,Iam Silician{my father,s side}And scottish,english and Indian!I have 8 sisters and brothers,and growing up,they called me the white one because I looked white next to family but next to other white poeple they always mistake me for being spanish or cubban because of how Dark my skin is!Its all in your skin pigments,that make your color!so every body sees things differently is what i,m trying to say!but if you cut us,We all bleed the same color Blood,In other words,what ever your color skin,We are all Equal!Thats my answer to your second q.God bless,Hollywood

Answer 7

guess it depends on the persons people and where they come from......like my family its a mixed race.... two of my brothers are dark skin and 3 of us have lighter skin.......one of my brothers... his wife is Latin and she showed me that they put on her birth certificate "Caucasian".....so now days who knows what white means any more.....

Answer 8

Some people heritage ..come from European country...Italy Portugal...Spain

Answer 9

mixed races white person its cacausian means white like snow

Answer 10

They just tan, or use that tanning dye on their skin.