Being racist against blacks is such a bad thing that actually it can never exist. Nobody could really be that bad. My hatred for white racism is shown by my resolute understanding that it never occurs.
[ Notes for the dumb: Yes, the above is irony. ]
I think we do need to be more careful about what/how we call something racist in Modern America. I got caught up in the whole "racist" Transformers 2characters until I discussed it and realized, I doubt Bay actually intended it to incite hatred or violence. It was offensive as hell though. We need to start making a more concerted effort to the distinction you can make a racist statement without the person being a racist. As a man, I'm sure I've made sexist statements as a joke that would offend women but I'm as far from sexist as possible.
Things were so much easier in the good ole' days when the hoods were on the outside!
I think it's generally more useful to call particular statements or actions racist/sexist than to label people.
"I doubt Bay actually intended it to incite hatred or violence."
Yeah, people expect racism to take the form of outright hate mongering. Maybe those Transformers2 characters were racist and Michael Bay isn't out to make trouble, he's just got some dopey blind spots shared by other white people with regard to nonwhite people. Luckily I don't know anything about the controversy and don't have to decide!
I'm in the same boat, Tom. Ignorance really often is bliss.