Reply #13: A true observation.

[silverweb]

"...showing that working class blacks and whites had more to gain as allies than enemies."

Howard Zinn, in A People's History of the United States, showed quite clearly that the divide of fear between blacks and poor whites was deliberately created and then carefully cultivated by the wealthy ruling class for exactly the reason you state.

The wealthy ruling class today still cultivates and fosters fear/loathing between the races for exactly the same reason. They know that united we could easily overwhelm them and cut them down to size. United we terrify them, so they spend a great deal of effort reinforcing divisive fears and prejudices.