I think that the topic does nothing to bring forth unity in the race-but instead it is another topic that is meant to engage in outlining our differnces and not focusing on our similarities, which would invaribly lead to to the common destination of liberation. the i suffer more than you vibe is a dead vibe. we all suffer in babylon.

my brother and i have differnt fathers, he is lighter than me, about will smith's color. i am dark.
in some environments, i might think that his lighter skin may be of benefit to him (although i cannot think of that environment). I have locks, my brotheer is bald. In some environments, i would be greeted with more warmth and/or acceptance than him, because I am a locksman.
so there are instances in every situation where one can focus on a physical characteristic and utilize that characteristic to symbolize some level of perceived oppresion because of that trait.
it is not because of lack of character, that i dont agree w/ your reasonings-it is the timeliness of the topic that is distracting to Africans. There are soooo many differences that we share, but above all of those differences we are African. The day that we embrace both our humanity and ethnicity, and learn to celebrate our differences, while finding strength in our similarities-that will be a defining day in the quest for AFRICAN SOLIDARITY.
btw-what do you think of Cornell West, a light skin AFRICAN LEADER & Pan African Scholar?