Kim C. - Discrimination based on skin colour is a world wide phenomena. Have you forgotten South Africa or the Ethiopian Jews of Israel? Doesn't matter where you go. Lighter skin = privilege and prosperity, generally.

Oddly enough, if you are among the very wealthy, your skin colour does not matter one bit. Politicians use skin colour as a means to divide and conquer. Better to keep the lower classes at each others' throats than to have them recognize their real enemies.