Funny thing that you mention Septimius Severus in the context of skin pigmentation. He actually did care about color and there is a funny story about him meeting a black soldier (aka Ethiopian):

"After inspecting the wall near the rampart in Britain… just as he [Severus] was wondering what omen would present itself, an Ethiopian from a military unit, who was famous among buffoons and always a notable joker, met him with a garland of cypress. And when Severus in a rage ordered that the man be removed from his sight, troubled as he was by the man's ominous colour and the ominous nature of the garland, [the Ethiopian] by way of jest cried, it is said, “You have been all things, you have conquered all things, now, O conqueror, be a god.” "

In terms of color, your average North African is not that much different from your average southern Italian. Look up Zinedine Zidane. What "color" would he be?