The Red Head

What is a redhead? Is it just a color? Is it something more? Maybe even a life style. It all depends on your interpretation of how much something that seems so trivial can affect one’s life. I am a person with red hair and have personally felt much of what is described below. All redheads like so many other species of humans have felt the burden of being different. Redheads are biased against, are associated with many famous names, and are supposedly going extinct.
Prejudice against Redheads is formally known as Gingerism. In Britain there are many remarks and prejudices based on the color of a persons hair ((In Britain I've also heard red heads are considered unlucky)(One of the reasons J.K. Rowling said she wanted Ron to have red hair)). Redheads are often considered to be untrustworthy because Judas was said to have Red Hair. It has long been associated with the Devil and with witchcraft. The Romans were said to be afraid of the reds after Boudicca the Queen of the Tribes of Norfolk (a land in Britain) led a rebellion against the Romans that were occupying Britain. Later after Boudicca’s rebellion Romans paid top price for slaves with red hair. Egyptians burned red haired men because their god Typhon enemy to Osiris was said to have red hair and in burning them Osiris would grant them a good harvest. There is a French saying that “Redheaded women are either violent or false, and usually are both”. In the United Kingdom families have had to move to get away from the prejudice. There is a story of a young man being stabbed in the back for "being Ginger". Some say that red hair matches the temperament (hah matches! they are topped with red as well)(Another nickname of mine is match stick). It is because the red color reminded people of flames, and those whose hair is red have a particularly fickle personality like fire. Those without red hair think that redheads are making something out of nothing but many people, in the United Kingdom especially, have insults hurled at them by unknown passerby. Redheads are less frequent than Left-handers and Gays. This makes us a major minority in the world. We number less than 70 million compared to the world population of almost 7 billion. Those who are different have always been persecuted. People don’t like different and wish to do away with it. Some of this information was posted in the “Washington Post” in March of 2002.
Many of the most renowned rulers of the world were redheaded. Cleopatra wore a black wig over her hair. The first Elizabeth had red hair. Winston Churchill the British prime minister during the Second World War, Leif Ericson the first European to find America, Christopher Columbus, Vincent Van Gough, Thomas Jefferson, Galileo, William the Conqueror, John F. Kennedy, and Queen Victoria all had red hair and are very famous people even today. All were brilliant leaders, scientists, and philosophers whose work still has a lot of influence over us.
Redheads in literature, art, or the media often stand out. "Anne of Green Gables" seemed to find much trouble in her hair color and said, "People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is." Lucile Ball famous for the T.V. sitcom "I Love Lucy" was known for being spontaneous and bold. Mrs. Ball once said "Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead." Clifford the Big Red Dog is still a popular book among children. Wilma and Pebbles Flintstone stood out against the stony background of the cartoon The Flintstones. Mark Twain the author of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” had red hair and said, "While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats." Emily Dickinson the famous poet who secluded herself to write her poems. Vivaldi the famous composer, violinist, and priest was also known as "The Red Priest". Adam Savage current co-host of the science show "Mythbusters" has bright red hair. Lindsay Lohan the star in films such as "The Parent Trap" and "Freaky Friday" sticks out above most actresses her age. Aphrodite the Greek Goddess of love had fiery red hair. Botticelli painted Venus with long flowing red hair in his painting The Birth of Venus (Noteably Venus is the Roman god of love. An odd coincidence that both godesses of love have red hair). William Shakespeare the best-known writer is portrayed as a redhead. (This part was added for just for theOtaku) Ichigo Kurosaki in the popular anime series Bleach is a red head and offten must deal with bullies who target him for his hair. Also his name can mean strawberry which befits the color of his hair. Axel from Kingdom Hearts 2 also has red hair. Shirley Fennet from Code Geass is a redhead. Kyo from fruits basket has orange hair and there is a part about imagining how Tohru's mom would react to it and it shows her giving him a noogie and saying, "Hey, an orange! Let's peel it!" (Sorry that I only added this for theOtaku but few people I know, actualy no one in my English class, watch anime)(Also sorry to any redheaded characters I did not mention!) (I haven't seen that much anime to know a whole lot of characters and if you feel there is someone I should add please tell me) Redheads have made their mark on the arts time and time again.
I have personally felt the prejudice of being a redhead. When I was young as soon as I would walk into any building I would pull up my hood to hide my hair. I knew even then that it made me less conspicuous. Also I loved "Clifford the Big Red Dog" books because I felt a strong connection with him. I also remember these women who were friends with my mom would come up to me and shake my hair and say how they would kill to have that color of hair which was a very uncomfortable expirence when these people I barely knew were touching me. When I got older I was often the bud of much resentment because I stood out. I was an easier target because I was spotted easier. I always am on the look out for other redheads because I wonder if they feel the same way. I feel connected to other redheads because at the very least I know that we are the bud of the same jokes. It makes me angry that people in Britain say that we don’t go through the same prejudice. If bullies are predators than more of my species will be killed because we stand out in our environment. It's a perfect example of natural selection. A butterfly with light wings on a dark tree will be eaten at a faster rate than a dark butterfly because the birds can see the light butterflies better. It is an unfortunate side effect of being different. I don’t feel as though I have had racist remarks thrown at me but I do think that people will treat me differently subconsciously.
There are many differences in the body of a redhead because of the gene that causes red hair. It is believed that 100,000 years ago the MCR1 (Melanocortin Receptor 1) gene mutated so that the skin could get more Vitamin D from the sun. Red hair was just a side effect of the gene mutating. The skin needed to be lighter for organisms living in a climate with a lesser amount of sun. The skin could then receive more Vitamin D from the sun in shorter periods of time. This mutation was caused to combat Rickets, a disease of the bones that causes them to be weakening from a lack of Vitamin D. Organisms in the North, who are often deprived of a regular amount of sunlight, evolved their genes to fit their environment better. Other organisms that evolved the gene are squirrels, dogs, cats, deer, and the now famously red fox. In 1995 scientist Jonathan Rees found the redhead gene MCR1 on the 16th chromosome of humans. Most doctors agree that redheads bleed more during pregnancy, are more susceptible to pain, but need more anesthetics to knock them out.
There are many myths about the extinction of people with red hair. “Scientists” say that the brunette gene is dominant so every time a redhead marries one and has children the gene becomes faded. They predict redheads will have completely died out by 2100. It takes much more time than 100 years for a gene 70 million strong dies. If two parents are carrying the recessive gene but aren’t actually redheaded they should have a redheaded child. The gene can skip generations. Also it would likely reappear shortly after being extinct. Even in parts of Asia and Africa where redheads are not known to reside red hair has appeared. It is obviously hundreds of times less frequent in these areas but it does occur. In 2005 a wave of stories came out about the extinction of redheads most citing The Oxford Hair Foundation. This group is little known and doesn’t seem to actually have done any studies into the subject. The foundation seems to have been completely absorbed into the Proctor and Gamble Company. Also I would like to add that Wikipedia has no page on the Oxford Hair Foundation, which is an incredibly sad feat to be so little known. Nearly impossible some would say. A man named Dr. John Gray seems to show up in most of these extinction articles saying “The way things are going red hair will either be extremely rare or extinct by the end of the century.” Then in August through October of 2007 the actual date is unknown National Geographic supposedly had an article saying redheads would become extinct. National Geographic’s website seems to be lacking any information of ever having said this or anything about redheads. Some have supposedly found the article in the September 2007 issue and that it was a small article and only mentioned that news reports had said redheads were becoming extinct. Then in March of 2008 another article claiming extinction for redheads appeared in MensHealth Magazine. Their website also seems to be lacking any information as to having said this. Alot of people at school seemed to hear it on the radio and some of my friends who frequently joke with me about my hair pointed at me as soon as I got in the classroom and yelled "your gaoing to die". I did take it for what it was, a joke. I think I am a sensitive person and know that I do behave accordingly but I don't think that the insults I endured were any less tahn what I made them. The entire idea of it is ridiculous and most of the sources saying this haven’t, apparently. Also there is another idea that blondes will also go extinct within 600 years. This story has appeared every 50 years or so since the 1800s, the most recent articles saying that WHO (World Health Organization) had done research into this. WHO has denied this and say they have never done any research into the subject and seem to find pursuing that study as a waste of time. Most who say that redheads are going extinct have sources that haven’t said anything of the sort and have not actually looked at the facts or the genetics of redheads. There is always potential, especially if the Ozone keeps weakening, then the reds will probably be the first to go because of their weak skin. Both stories make little sense and have shady sources of reference.
Redheads have a history of being persecuted for their hair. Many of our best leaders are known for their fiery red hair. The reds have always been a major influence to the arts. I myself have felt the pain of being different and all the consequences that come with it. The genes in redheads are different than other hair colors and have caused many unique abilities in their skin. There are many myths circulating about the extinction of redheads that aren’t true. Redheads are all in the same boat because they are such a minority. They all feel connected to one another by their common difference. I would define redheads as people who stand out among the ranks of other people and rise above the challenge of living in a world where they are biased against for being unique.
I wrote this as my final essay for my English class (with some diferrences). I hope you enjoyed it. I would also like to add that there is some good to standing out. I thik I do get some positive attention for my hair. Like it's a never ending joke in the band room (I'm not in band but am friends with most people in band) that Redheads will be persecuted for entering that room. They joke with me frequently about it. Also I would say that because of my standing out and subsequent misery it aged me considerably and helped me see some more wisdom.