I was wondering how long it would take for race to become a factor in the BP issue in the Gulf. I would expect Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton to start protest within the next 2 weeks if BP is ready to be blackmailed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The NAACP has sent a letter to BP expressing concerns that minorities helping to clean up after the massive oil spill tend to be assigned tougher, lower paying jobs than whites.

NAACP president, Ben Jealous, says in the letter dated today that he wants to meet with BP's chief executive officer. E-mail messages left with several BP spokespeople were not immediately returned.

The NAACP says minority contractors are not receiving equal consideration for opportunities to participate in mitigation efforts. It claims that contractors are busing in workers from out of state instead of hiring locals who have lost their livelihoods because of the spill.

It also says that cleanup workers are not being provided with protective clothing and masks.