You said:
"Yet, I should hope there is commonality in a quest to overstand oppression not only due to color, but also class, caste and ethnic(racism)."

* Class, caste and other ethnic divisions are tied to the issue of Colorism in post colonial societies. By dealing with Colorism, we are also examining its relationship to class, caste and other ethnic divisions. Even if others do not see how Colorism and those issues are connected, they can raise the issues that they consider important. Certainly if people feel strongly about what is to be addressed, they should put it on the table. I am not waiting until there is common agreement to raise issues.

You said:
"Locksing from I man experience, tend to make others perceive the lockesed one as darker in complection or actually being described as ugly and spoiling up yourself etc."

* Even if locking one's hair is considered ugly to some people, the society is more inclined to accept those with lighter skin and straighter locks. They do not consider light-skinned people with straight long locks the same as dark-skinned Africans. The society is less accepting of the kinky-hair 2, 3 and 4 fingers locks that are more common to dark-skinned Blacks who are not into fashion dreads. As a matter of fact, the straighter hair type locks are what have become fashionable today as it plays into the desire for long flowing hair.

The religious imagery is a major part of the problem, but the solution will not simply be about replacing the White image with a Black one. I have long explained the importance of removing the white saviour image from our Black communities as PART of the solution.

We should also come up with better approaches to doing things and not continue in the same misguided ways of this corrupt system. The idea of putting aside issues (instead of properly addressing them) so we can come together to develop economically is part of the illusion of capitalism, and the present 'war on terrorism'. It is a false front that cannot work. We should not tell parties who have suffered in the system, including at the hands of people who look like them, that their issues are unimportant and should be put aside in the interest of 'unity'.

You said:
"As to your last statement, Do we address and solve the issue of colorism before uniting, or
do we address the issue of colorism while we simultaneously work on unity?"

* People cannot unite with each other if there are unresolved grievances among them. Parties will 'lay in wait' until they feel they have the upper hand to wipe out the other side. As a result of not properly resolving issues, the door will be left open for anti-Black opportunists to continue to use the unresolved issues to ferment descent (We have enough examples of this including the Rwanda genocide). As a matter of fact, people will NOT unite with each other until they first reconcile with their selves (higher to lower). That is how they will get a bigger grasp of their humanity. Even when that is done and those who are doing the work to address these issues can easily identify with a wide range of truths, if others do not do similar work on themselves, but prefer to be dishonest in their dealings, there will be disunity among the collective.

Unity is founded on respect for oneself.