Lisa,

Since I am possibly moving to Colombia at some point, I recently read Marie Arana's biography of Simon Bolivar. After that thriller, I started reading a different bio of him. I mention this because the history of the Americas is all about color, caste and slavery, in ways many of us who don't study history can't always appreciate. I mention this because so many of us make ill-informed assumptions regarding color and race without giving much consideration to the deeply troubled history that led to where we are today. I found the two biographies stunning in terms of helping me really understand how deeply embedded the caste system was- Spain made sure it was and kept it that way- and how that continues to affect our Southern neighbors. And us, for that matter, for our futures have long been entwined as well as inspired by one another. If you were to read even just the first few chapters of Arana's book you might see, as I do, why this woman's virulent hate is so pure. 18th Century Spain profited from people's desperation to prove their whiteness (certificates could be bought, for example, like nobility). There was profit in it. Fast forward to today: there is still profit in the caste system, which to my uneducated mind, is what was driving this woman's self-revulsion. Anything but Black, anything but Brown. Just like in the USA, at that point in Colombia and Venezuela's history, a single drop of mixed blood could cost you a post, a partner, your life's dreams. We haven't changed much. We are still so easily manipulated into believing a tiny, tiny, TINY layer of skin color determines someone's value. This may seem wildly off base but the way I see it, Lisa, there are powerful historical reasons why we are so incredibly screwed up. For what it's worth. I saw the video and wanted to vomit. All I can say is that I hope her legal problems bankrupt her for she is already morally bankrupted.