I suspect that there is a relation between Vitamin D and skin color.

The effect takes place on an evolutionary scale and not on an individual scale.

The UVB rays from the sun turns 7-dehydrocholesterol into Vitamin D3. The kidney turns this into Vitamin D2. These vitamins control a variety of things including the absorbtion of calcium by the bones and the immune system.

This is serious stuff. People who don't get enough vitamin D often fail to reproduce or die.

UVB rays are the first rays filtered by the sky. UVB doesn't pass through glass.

Since thick atmosphere filters vitamin D, people living in temperate climates don't get enough vitamin D in the winter.

Vitamin D deficiencies lead to poor immune systems and are likely to die from colds and flus. Children with vitamin D deficiences develop rickets.

Too much UVB is problematic as UVB rays cause skin cancer.

The situation is that people who get too much sun are more likely to die of cancer. People who don't get enough sun are apt to get rickets and have bad immune systems.

Populations that live in tropical climates have sun exposure all year round. It is an evolutionary advantage to have dark skin.

People in temperate climates don't get enough vitamin D in the winter. People in these climates have skin that turns white in the winter and tans during the summer.

Skin color appears to be an example of evolution in action.

NOTE: people in northern climates learned that fortifying milk with vitamin D could reduce problems with vitamin D deficiency; so we can counter the problem with science.

Sadly, the mortality rate of COVID was higher for African Americans in the United States than for people of European or Native American heritage. Studies show that African Americans tend to suffer vitamin D deficiencies.

I think people are scared of discussing this important topic.

I wish the CDC would scream from the roof tops that vitamin D reduces the severity of COVID. I have no idea why they won't do it.