There is the story of Al Aswad Al Ghandajaani, the Arabic linguist and Arabic genealogist who lived in the 11th century AD. Al Aswad Al Ghandajaani's real name was Al Hasan ibn Ahmed and his nickname was Al A'araabi (the Arab). He was also known as Al Aswad (the black) Al Ghandajaani (the person from Ghandajaan- a place in Afghanistan). It is said that he used to attempt to blacken his complexion by applying tar to his skin and sitting in the sun. He did this (tried to blacken his skin) so that he could live up to his nickname, "the Arab". Yaqut said, "He (Al Hasan ibn Ahmed) had a son and he used to throw him in oil and then have him stand in the very hot sun of Ghandajaan. He did this regularly so that he (his son) could become dark-skinned like the Arabs. He continued to do this until his poor son died." As you can see, Al Hasan ibn Ahmed went to great pains to blacken his complexion and his son's complexion because he knew that the Arabs were a black-skinned people. He lived amongst the Arabs and was an expert in the Arabic language and Arab genealogy, so he knew very well what the pure Arabs looked like. If only he were here today to enlighten those who have doubts.

 الأسود الغندجاني الحسن بن أحمد، أبو محمد الأعرابي، المعروف بالأسود الغندجاني اللغوي النسّابة. ويقال أنه كان يتعاطى تسويد لونه ويدَّهن بالقطران ويقعد في الشمس ليحقق لنفسه التلقيب بالأعرابي (الوافي بالوفيات للصفدي، نشرة الوراق: ص 1613) قال ياقوت: وكان له ابن فأخذ يطليه بالزيت ويقفه في شمس القيظ بالغندجان وهي حارة جداً ولم يزل يفعل به ذلك ليكون أسمر اللون كالعرب حتى مات ذلك المسكين (إرشاد الأريب: نشرة الوراق ص 812)