Melanin is a chemical found throughout the body, and is made up of subunits of chemicals which are influenced by enzymes (protein molecules used to digest food, produce energy, and purify the blood) to build a stable and resilient compound. (Kittles 1995).

This stable and resilient compound gives many benefits to the body of melinated people. In the body melanin is responsible for a variety of functions including energy conversion, control of organs cyclical rhythms, melodious and rhythmical speech and much more (L.O. Afrika 2004).

 
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What is it?

Melanin is a chemical, made up of subunits of chemicals which are influenced by enzymes (protein molecules used to digest food, produce energy, and purify the blood) to build a stable and resilient compound. This compound is distributed through the body of pigmented people (Kittles 1995).
This stable and resilient compound gives many benefits to the body of melinated people.
The importance of melanin is hidden all too often for a variety of reasons but it is fundamental we can identify where is resides in us and why this extremely precious chemical makes us so unique.
Melanin can appear in a variety of different colours but is predominantly black or dark in colour and is found in the earth as well as throughout the human body.
Melanin is in all of us and is situated in many areas such as:

• Central Nervous System
• Autonomic (Automatic) Nervous System
• Peripheral (outlaying, surface) nervous System
• Diffuse Neuroendocrine (Glands) System Visceras (Major Internal Organs)

African (Black) people tend to have more organs that contain high concentrations of melanin. It is fundamental to remember melanin is a gift responsible for many of our capabilities.
Melanin is the basis of pigment and even in the first stages of human life as an embryo melanin is present as the body forms in a variety of essential regions such as the brain, hair, skin, eyes and genitals.
It is important to recognise the immense strength of melanin which appears to be a substance that is almost indestructible. Studies illustrates that when exposed to 600°c melanin still retains nearly 50% of its original properties, it has a strong resistance to decay and can also be found in 1,000 year old mummies.

 
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Pablo Menfesawe-Imani interview – Sept 2009

Why does the Black Community need to wake up to their Health & Wellbeing?

Health is a birthright and is the normal state of all human beings when one becomes unhealthy they are in a state of unbalance and this can materialise in a myriad of ways, from the very subtle like just simply being impatient and wanting to push someone over just to get a seat on the bus to the most well known widespread cases, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and cancer.
Now you may not have a life threatening disease, yet if you are angry all the time or often that is a liver problem, back pains denote lack of self assurance and security which will eventually lead to greater problems, this is merely a tiny example of the pressing need to be aware of our bodies and feelings.

Now you mention Black community may I add Black global community cause Black people are falling out from Diabetes in the Caribbean, USA, UK and in Africa due to poor dietary habits. The majority of Black people are not concerned about what they put in their mouths and this is due to a mental and emotional condition. They are addicted to foods and ways of cooking that will kill slowly or quickly depending on how you look at it. Visit a pupil referral unit (special need schools and state prisons for children) in London and find that most of the children in there are from the Black community with ADHD. This is not because they are bad children. Further investigation into the diet, homes, environment and parenting will give you the answers why they are there.

Wellbeing is about emotional states how we feel about our homes our environment and the kind of relationships we are having.
The crimes the black community are committing on each other is staring us in the face and it’s not just knives and guns, its lies, stealing, deceit, emotional blackmail and all kinds of lack of concern for each other. In yoga this is termed as unconsciousness so when you speak of waking up you mean becoming conscious and this extends to all of humanity.

 
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“MASHUFAA IS A MARTIAL ART. IT IS A SWAHILI WORD, WHICH ROUGHLY TRANSLATES AS MEANING THE ‘SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR’. A WARRIOR IS A PERSON WHO CAN OVERCOME FEAR THROUGH DETERMINATION AND WILL. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF MASHUFAA”

 
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What do you want to see in the black community?

I would want people to come back home to our own traditions. We need to follow our own belief and ideas. Because our view and relationship with the world is seen through someone else’s eyes. We have lots of money in the black community but with tainted morality and no relationship with the community nothing good can grow. Our people can get well but we must be rooted in our own consciousness and tend to our own spiritual needs to get well.

 
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