38. "We were calling ourselves black prior to the nationalist movement" In response to In response to 35
Its my understanding that 'black' was used as an identifier long before the middle passage.
I think spirit's point is that the terms are somewhat irrelevant - when there are clear physical differences that are/ will continued to be used to discriminate. While the "labels" for race may be inaccurate at some level they are indicators for clear physical differences that can't be ignored. There is a basis for racism that is beyond the social or economic and has to do with preservation of a certain physical aesthetic. It is not totally crazy for caucasians to fear the blending away of blonde haired blued eyed people - which would then place those few remaining at a distinct disadvantage simply because they do not look like the rest of the group. One some levels it is purely about being able to blend in.
So far, nothing you've said gives a solution for that fundamental issue. Because in actuality, no one is truly colorblind. Just as you can see that a dog looks different than a cat though they are both mammals. At some point those physical differences result in behavioral differences as a result (ie hair braiding) which results in cultural differences.