xterm + colors

Пункт 4.6 в MC FAQ:

Some color_xterm terminals define all colors as black instead of the
standard ANSI colors. This makes them go completely black when you try
to use Midnight Commander with colors.

You will have to override the defaults. Create a file "color.defaults"
   which has the following contents:
    color_xterm*color0:           Black
    color_xterm*color1:           Red
    color_xterm*color2:           Green
    color_xterm*color3:           Yellow
    color_xterm*color4:           Blue
    color_xterm*color5:           Magenta
    color_xterm*color6:           Cyan
    color_xterm*color7:           White
    color_xterm*background:       White
    color_xterm*foreground:       Black

   xrdb -merge color.defaults
   Alternatively you can add the suggested contents of the color.defaults
   file to your .Xdefaults or .Xresources file (or what ever the name of
   your X configuration file is). Or you can replace your non-ANSI
   color_xterm with an ANSI color_xterm.

Суровый и неспортивный метод -- пускать mc -c.

Более спортивно сказать

COLORTERM=;export COLORTERM

спасибо за помощь.