As for the Obama business, he’s right that there is a class divide in this country between successful blacks and blacks living in poverty, and that, demographically, more poor blacks tend to be descendants of slaves, who came to this country involuntarily. However, he’s mistaken in failing to recognize the difference that skin color can make, even discounting normal modes of dress. I would wholeheartedly agree that wearing hip-hop or street clothes can cause extra discrimination, but wearing a conservative suit certainly doesn’t eliminate it.

I have read accounts of African blacks in New York City not being subjected to the same racism as American blacks were, and some American black, with full disapproval of their peers, dressing in African robes to escape some restrictions. Doing so was at best risky, but it shows that in some ways African were perceived as separate than Blacks and received different treatment in some ways.

(although to be fair, he is British, so most of the troops dying in Iraq aren’t his country’s).

He became a US citizen last year. I’m not sure to what extent that changes your argument.