Racism Returns to Public Life

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

This is a quote from Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Obama’s choice for next Supreme Court justice.

My question: Why isn’t this statement considered racism? Racism refers to the elevation of race as above the importance of character, ideas, individual personality and individual choice. When a prominent Hispanic woman declares that white men are inferior, it’s every bit as racist as it would be if a prominent white man declared that all Hispanic women were inferior. I don’t see the difference. I doubt that anybody else does, either. It’s the fact that nobody will comment on it that bothers me so much. Doesn’t it bother you? NO form of racism should be tolerated on the Supreme Court. It’s not “racism in reverse,” either. It’s simply racism.