*****So if possible, please inform me where you can point to contemporary tangible evidence where black folks were passed over in a leadership position, exclusively based on skin complexion *****

For one thing, those examples you listed are black organizations BY and FOR black people.

In contrast, Obama was raised, approved and sanctioned by white people. The impact of his light-ness is twofold.

1. with his 'bi-raciality' he is a safe negro because of his being raised in a eurocentric environment with a eurocentric mindset.

2. in addition to his 'safeness', whites in power pedestal the lighter toned in order to perpetuate their agenda of colorism division as Leslie said is a continuation of the privileges granted to lighter folks. In other words, pedestaling lights in prestigious positions REINFORCE their hierarchal structure as implemented BY THEM upon black people.

The Black Caucus is not relevant because it is a Caucus and not presented with the leader on front street.

NOI on the other hand, DOES have a visual leader and founder Wallace Fard Muhammad was indeed light/mixed. Elijah Muhammad was also lighter and possessed more or less European features (compared to Garvey for instance). The same goes for Malcolm X and Farrakhan.

As for African presidents, you have to realize that there is no a light-skin pool to pick a leader. However, you will notice that many Moslem leaders (Khadafi, King Hussein, Saddam Hussein, Anwar Sadat, Shah of Iran and others) were of the lighter shade of the shades of those nations. Selassie I was of the lighter stock of his country's constituents.

Basically the litmus test is if the leader was installed/approved by the controlling powers and have a visual pedestaled singular leader. See, the key is to perpetuate the hierarchal structure of monotheistic semitism. Monotheistic/Semitism is the earth-based portion of the "as above so below" duality which juxtaposes White/Male supremacy. So whenever this structure is being reinforced by the handlers, you will see a MALE and a male of the lightest stock possible/available.

This can also be examined by the propping of WEB DuBois vs. Marcus Garvey.

Of course as we enter the New Age, these implementations will be CHANGED as long as the pre-established mindset is continued.

To be honest, I find your examples to be strawman arguments and invalid within the context of Leslie's article. It is not an indictment on light people. It is an analysis of one of the many mechanisms used by whites to manipulate blacks.

I am not being fussy with you for the sake of being fussy. I am simply trying to convey my sights to your issues with the article.

My premise is that TYPICALLY when there is a figurehead to be pedestaled and when there is a spectrum of shades available and qualified (by whatever qualifications) the trend is to highlight (no pun intended) the lighter skinned of the stock. This is especially accurate when there is alignment to European standards and agendas.

(so in other words, I am in fact calling the NOI an alignment with the European agenda)

Lets see if it is possible that we may avoid personal feelings and address the topic at hand.

-always