You said:
"We have more in common than we have different, yet we chose to focus on the difference."

This is a worthless comment.

We usually discuss many things we have in common. I have presented information to show how we all share a common African ancestry. I believe we agree on many points that are presented on the board. So focusing on the differences too is healthy and important. Focusing on Colorism is not the cause of division. The divisions were already there, so these discussions are about explaining some of the reasons there are divisions.
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What is worthless to you may be a treasure to someone else.

Is it focusing or dwelling on differences?

There will always be differences among people. We can debate/argue/reason all day about them.

But if we are not trying to find the common things to bring us together, then we will ever let the differences keep us divided.

You talk about colorism and the fact that light is more preferred than dark by babylon, which has been internalized by many Black people.

In I opinion, you are preaching to the choir (with possibly a few exceptions). The conscious black ones here supposively have torn away those shackles of self hatred.

The conscious BLACK person should embrace all shades of blackness instead of trying to find ways of dividing the hues.

It would be nice to see if a light or brown person has anything to assist for the liberation of Afrikan people before we prejudge them as being favored by the establishment.

If that person shows him/herself as being whitewashed, then dont bother with that person.

The whitewashing is not limited to brown people though.

You are right.

Divisions were already here.

But must we perpetuate them?

Cant we even agree to disagree?

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karibkween said:
"Africans in the diaspora have not even resolved the problems they have with each other, yet they presume they are in a position to dictate the discourse of their relationship with Mother Africa."

You replied with:
"Neither has Afrikans on the continent. Self hatred in the form of tribal war is running rampant."

You appear to be pointing fingers like if karibkween said that continental Africans were above these issues. Your response does not invalidate or address karibkween's statement. The point is, with all the problems in Africa, Diasporan Africans cannot properly assist when they cannot resolve similar problems among themselves.
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So what do you suggest?

Black people in the Diaspora become on monolitic group, with knowledge of self and automony, before we can offer assistance to Afrikans on the continent?

I thought we were all in this together as Afrikans.

Karibkween is trying to make some kind of distinction as if we are not, in my opinion.

I just reminded her that not all is good on the continent....our brothas and sistas need help from other black people.

We know that Europe is not helping.

The Arabs are not helping.

And there are many whitewashed Afrikans who are products of centuries of colonial rule and dependant on babylon, who are not helping.

So who is helping?

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Karibkween also made what I consider to be a very important point.

karibkween said:
I have no problem with help, but I happen to think that the "helpee" should determine the need and mode of the assistance, not the "helper."
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Ideally, I agree.

But I feel that basic needs for survival is the same for all.

Food, water, shelter (clothing)...

No one who doesnot have those basic needs, are in a position to dictate what kind of food or clothing they want.

So I assume she is talking about education.

I did agree that there needs to be some kind of discussion and agreement about how what is needed and how things would be implemented so the needs would not be a problem being met for the people in the future.

Afrikans in the diaspora and on the continent have a collective responsiblity for the upliftment and liberation of Afrikan people everywhere.

Blessed