Imagining... one of the problems would be, and it remains today, is there a difference between "equality", "human rights" and "politics"? If non-political intervention and even prohibition on political discussion is a landmark (which I think *is* a good thing because we look for unity not division in freemasonry) , and something like segregation (to pick an issue) is being couched in politics, where does that leave lodges and Freemasonry ? I can understand something like the Grand Orient of Italy fighting the Papal States in the 1800's because the issues were not just political, they were seen as ones of human rights and Freedom. We all know the answer I guess, we need to act as individuals and keep Freemasonry the hell out of politics, and politics the hell out of Freemasonry, but our values of freedom and equality are guiding principles and when something like racism arises, it needs to be addressed in lodges, regardless of what's happening in the wider world because not to do so makes us hypocrites, but not also acting in the outside world, perhaps that also makes us hypocrites ? A toughie... But again, we come back to the truth that Freemasons should be able to hold and act on their individual political views, but just can't espouse them in a lodge or under the banner of Freemasonry because (regular) freemasonry is a-political. Look through a list of Famous Freemasons to see the diversity that proves this..
I'm hardly a political activist, but I certainly have been a social one... the visible absence of Freemasonry in social reform makes me wonder sometimes, but by the same token the values we share must drive some great men to affect change.. I guess Freemasonry can only do what it does - support the disadvantaged and needy through charity. Some might call that benevolence, some might call it charity, but another might couch it in some form of political terms rather than how we do - charity, benevolence and justice.
I always go back to the virtues, prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice being the cardinal, and the theological, faith, hope and charity (the latter not just being about $$$ but also charity of spirit). I always end up on Faith, Faith that all will be well because despite the problems I perceive, it's all in God's hands, but I always like to know where I'm supposed to give His work a nudge...
Back to Prince Hall, one of the issues for the men in of the day was that Colour was not even seen in terms of race for some, it was seen as an issue of Human and Sub-human, where some would even debate if Africans had a soul.... We (fortunately) completely reject such thinking today .... Fortunately we are more enlightened now, but that needs to be reflected in our conduct of today. It's why lodges I an in are so "diverse", I dont even see them as such - just full men who happen to be from difference places and sociological origins and who speak different languages..