I recall a novel, but regret I forget its name & author, telling of a dark-skinned black woman ostracised, or patronised as "dark meat" (that locution remains with me) by her lighter-skinned black contemporaries. I think the setting was Chicago.

Natalie Cole has said that, when her parents married, her mother's family did not want her to marry Nat King Cole, because they were light-skinned blacks and he was not. Conversely, Rihanna has told of being discriminated against at school in Barbados for the lightness of her skin --

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/3995/pop-star-tells-of-black-on-light-skinned-racism/

It must be pointed out therefore that even in some black communities there is discrimination of their own depending on the how light or black someone may be. In re this thread, this surely provides some explanation, & motivation, for the behaviour which Richard denounces so vehemently.

~M~