I can't beleive color is that big of factor to instill hatred. If it was why would the white women want to go to tanning booths and lay in the sun until atleast half baked. Maybe its to impress someone into thinking they have been working in the sun weeding the potatoe patch or something. I think sometimes we have people with big ambitions that are willing to fan the old coals of hatred into flames to fuel their own cause. Maybe even fiddling while waiting on the desired results.
I can still remember my cousins ( they were older than me) telling how our grandmother would pound into their heads that they were to never tell anyone of our Indian heritage. Her grandmother was a Ute and her and her sister had been adopted by a Cherokee family during the time of Trail of Tears era. They were then adopted by a white family at that time ( why the Ute were this far east is still unknown to me )Our grandma was so sure the march could happen again and the best way to avoid it was to deny who you are!
I try to avoid herd mentalities and go by what I know and if I must judge then atleast judge by the individuals actions and not the herd. Sometimes its hard to avoid the stampede of the herd, I guess thats where the survival mode kicks in and hopefully live til the dust settles.
While sometimes being assoiated as a different color even black may seem despised, it wouldnt be nearly as despised and abhorred as having leprosy and your skin turn white as snow!
As an Alabama native with a good bit of Cherokee on mama's side I know of what you speak. My grandfather to his dying day denied being quarter cherokee. If asked the Gibbs were greek. English surnamed Greeks in the mountains of Tennessee and Alabama is highly improbable. Or is Gibbs a derivative of the Melungeon Gibson? Who knows there are no records before my ggrandfather on that side and all the old folks strongly suggested I not look for any.
Then there's my pure highland Scot paternal line and the scandalous tales of my grandfather and his association with the hired help.
And my own comfort southerners of all types. I can take you to communities throughout Alabama and introduce you to multiple families living of all shades living side by side sharing common surnames.
I've come to the conclusion that we are all one big family and it's long past time to put our fueds in the past and leave it there.