I was awaking as usual to the intelleckshul radio and I caught a story about Somali women who buy skin cream which is supposed to lighten their skins. Apparently some of these nostrums are full of bad chemicals (including mercury). This practise has extended to the overseas Somali community and is usally considered taboo in discussion.
But my mind wandered to the phenomenon of black skin in general. I recall hearing that the skin of polar bears is black, supposedly to recover as much heat as possible from the sun, and in support of that polar bears have colorless hollow hairs which act as sunlight guides down to the skin. The hairs appear white due to their reflective qualities. Then I read that February 27th has been designated "International Polar Bear Day" in aid of keeping track on the welfare of the species.
I have been in polar bear country. Once as an electrical guy in an Alaskan village where the occasional polar bear skin, locally taken, could be seen draped over plywood. Also been to a village where a polar bear came into town and did some taking its own self, killing and dragging away one of the locals. That bear was tracked down and one of my friends with the State said its head wound up on a in an office not too far from hers where it was examined and found to have been starving. But even when not starving polar bears have a deserved reputation of not being too particular of their prey.

Another acquaintance of mine was on Baffin Island with his brother when a helicopter landed and they were told by the Mounties that a polar bear was tracking them.

Anyhow, polar bears are fantastic creatures, a tribute to the creative powers of nature, and unless you are an explorer or an Eskimo in the wrong place, or a northern seal, quite something to admire.