Recent events record that some people of color are loved more than other people of color. The shades of color may be significant but it is more to the point when their beliefs or place of origin are also taken into account.
All the discourse about refugees landing from out of the Caribbean and stepping on land or being caught out to sea begs the issue that most Americans are racist and have preferences of which shade of color or political background they will accept as capable of being converted into being “American.”
Many have noted the sham of accepting Cubans of any color as long as they are fleeing from persecution by Castro. Yet, one foot on the ground is enough for approval while wallowing in the sea with the Coast Guard turning them around to go back is a contradiction of rational thought. Haitians of any color have only a tiny cheering section of early arrivals that have made it onto the American scene so their voices are hardly heard nor listened to.
I find it difficult not to accept women refugees from Black Africa who are fleeing the threat of genital circumcision and/or political oppression. Yet, Black Africans and Americans of Black descent have different histories. Voices here in America are still raised in defense of descendants of 18th and 19th century slavery and are not as loud as might be heard in defense of oppression of Black Africans.
We are still moderating defense of genocide in Darfur where Muslim Arab mercenaries are systematically driving Black Africans off their land while neighboring nations look on, perhaps waiting for the word “GO” in order to feel obligated to intervene. The rest of the world and Black Americans have muted voices while attention is riveted on the plight of Palestinians who get along with help from their friends and are willing to commit suicide while murdering innocents who happen to be near the “martyr” who blows others up along with him or herself.
It is not only the color of people but it is also the political shades of right, left, capitalist, socialist or communist that leads power brokers to play favorites. Religious coloration is also a factor for, if you believe as I do, you are O.K. but if you belong to a proscribed sect you are not O.K. Our preferential laws can keep you from refuge here in America. Being color blind is a mind-set rather than an actuality for we often err in behalf of the right people for the wrong reasons. We still have plenty of land and room for many more people. The rigidity of too many others may prevent our acceptance of those who do not match the narrow image picturing what an American should be.