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{The colour of a person's skin should not matter}
{but rather, the content of their character should matter greatly}

Skin colour matters. There are no two ways about it...skin colour matters. It matters to such an extent that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation {ending African Slavery in the Southern States} was the trigger for one of the goals for war. You could well say that the American Civil War was actually based the fear of losing the lucrative trade in human cargo - finances that bolstered and powered the Southern States whole way of life. South Africa was another country that ran its laws, its jurisdiction based on the colour of a person's skin. Apartheid {the law of separation} put races of people within certain 'boxes'. Indeed, to be born white, {whether it be in South Africa or the Southern States meant, virtually, a lifetime of pampering and of opportunity}. That is not to say that poor whites didn't exist, of course they did. But in the main, to be born white was to look forward to a life of privilege.

On the other hand, to be born black would have meant facing a lifetime of slavery, drudgery, put downs, and fear. Yes, fear.The lack of opportunities for black people were chronic. In fact, there where no opportunities at all. To be born black in the Southern States especially {or anywhere for that matter in the United States of America] would have meant from the cradle to the grave, that person having to always look over their shoulder. Black people very quickly became aware of 'their standing' and 'their place'. They also became aware, at the earliest age possible, about the places where it would have been relatively safe for them to go too, and the places where they wouldn't be safe at all.

To be born white however, one never had to think about those things. Generally, to be born white meant growing up in a safe and clean environment. There wasn't the same pressures that white people faced compared to those of black people. They didn't wake up every morning wondering if that day would be the last day of their lives. Waking up wondering if that day would be the day when they, or their family members, would be lynched...for being black. Or wondering whether or not their churches were going to be burnt down, or their houses turned to ashes...for being black.

And in England, during the 50s and 60s many times when black people would be seeking a room for the night, there would be signs on the windows of motels {or bed and breakfasts} saying, in no uncertain

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