Originally Posted by
Loss Leader
Are black eyes even possible from a biology standpoint? It seems like the eye is pretty well suited for its task. I can't imagine what blacking out the entire white part would do.
I'm not sure if it's necessary to wonder such things, as I've not read a single "Black-Eyed Child" story that seemed based in any reality. It's usually a "friend of a friend" kind of story, vague and clearly fictional.
It seems like it became a popular enough bit of fiction to be spread about a bit in varying tales, fitting in nicely with whatever piece of myth you were into, be it UFOlogy, aliens, ghosts, etc.
It probably has vague roots in some older tale, but from what I can tell, as others have said, it's likely a product of television.