It is not hard to comprehend how some Blacks contribute to the ongoing tradition of racism, but not all deeds of this disloyalty are evident. Consider an article series published by the Sacramento Observer on Blacks and color consciousness. Entitled "Complexion Still Colors Black Perceptions," this article can be reasonably viewed as an extension of the slave master's system of dividing the Black population.

See, the first step in dividing any people is to get them to acknowledge a difference amongst themselves. This is what the slave masters did during slavery. They kindly pointed out to the house negroes the flaws and shortcomings of the field negroes, and this made the house negro behold the field negroes with a jaundice eye.

This practice of modern-day separation is not exactly in its purest form - house negro, field negro - but it is working through its most contemporary form, through the media and the institutionally educated Black: educated by the ways and means of the liberal studies of race differences.

The article is an obvious attempt to draw sympathy for a young Black woman - who is very dark in complexion - who experienced a form of racism from her own people. (Be careful people, we are entering the illusional realm of "reverse racism.") She claims that from her childhood even to this day she has had to take abuse from other Blacks concerning her Blackness in skin tone. So what, says Afromerica, it's a Black thing!

First of all, how will dwelling on the division among the Black race - put there intentionally by the white man for our destruction - by a sympathetic plea help arm Blacks for unity? It does just the opposite. It makes the already disillusioned Black mind ponder this fallacy and then turn and look at their brother or sister with malice in their heart. Read between these lines of this excerpt from the article:

"Taylor argues that light-skinned African Americans are favored because they more closely resemble the White majority in the U.S., which is depicted as the paragon of beauty in photographs, television commercials and popular culture. She also traces it back to slavery and the favoritism the master showed toward light-skin slaves, some of whom he had sexually exploited against their will."

The light-skin, dark-skin thing is true only because the white man made it true. However, the context in which "Taylor" has chosen to acknowledge this truth would imply that she, and others like her, resents this truth and blames their own people, thus further widening the division between Blacks. Of course the master showed favoritism toward light-skinned Blacks, it would have been no different if he had chosen to favor the dark-skinned Blacks, because his whole purpose was to divide the race regardless of complexion.

Once Blacks get beyond the "complexion" difference, only then can they see the larger plan. We practice exactly what the white man wants us to practice which is racism among ourselves, which is based on a plan he created to carry through as long as we let it. And with articles such as this, that day will not come no time soon because Blacks who have not yet learned to decipher the words of subtle racist will always be a cog in the wheel of racial disunity.

© 2004 by CR Hamilton