Black people do tan. I’m serious

It still amazes me that some people don’t know that black people tan. I’ve been getting strange looks from people because I am carrying around a Hawaiian tan that turned me from brown to chocolate bronze.

I’ve had several conversations with white friends who sort of apologize and say “I didn’t know black people tanned.” Yep we sure do. We tan. We burn and we use sun tan lotion to protect us from the sun. I became some what of a beach bum in Hawaii. I loved playing in the ocean and trying to body surf waves that mostly knocked me down and pushed sand in my face.

I loved laying around the pool and one of my favorite things was enjoying lunch with wife Abs at this outdoor restaurant right off the beach in Maui. Imagine eating pulled pork, steak and salad overlooking the Pacific and some pretty intimidating cliffs. It was wonderful and breath taking. But there was also sun and I got a tan.

It actually happens ever year, but there is a difference between a Michigan tan and a Maui tan. You are closer to the equator in Hawaii and sometimes the sun is so directly overhead that you barly can see your shadow. Sometimes after noon there is no shadow. I stayed in the sun for the better part of nine days and now you can see it.

I remember having a conversation with a friend and I casually mentioned tanning on a recent trip. They laughed.

“No seriously I do tan,” I said.

They laughed again and said what a clown I am. I rolled up my sleeve and the friend opened her mouth in amazement.

“Yeah,” I said. “We do tan.”

I actually love my sun tan but it is beginning to fade away.

Yes, black people also peel.