\setupcolors
  [state=start]

\definetextbackground
  [textcolor]
  [color=red,
   frame=no,
   location=text,
   backgroundcolor=green]

\starttext

\starttextbackground[textcolor]

\placefloat
  [table]
  [force,here]
  {none}
  {\bTABLE
     \bTR\bTD One little indian\eTD\bTD Two little indians\eTD\eTR
     \bTR\bTD One little indian\eTD\bTD Two little indians\eTD\eTR
   \eTABLE}

\stoptextbackground

\starttextbackground[textcolor]

\placefloat
  [table]
  [force,here]
  {none}
  {\bTABLE
     \bTR\bTD[color=red] One little indian\eTD\bTD Two little indians\eTD\eTR
     \bTR\bTD One little indian\eTD\bTD Two little indians\eTD\eTR
   \eTABLE}

\stoptextbackground

\stoptext