I did. Not once did I see the author use the term “African American” but rather (and properly) blacks, black neighbors and black Americans.
The hyphenated term indicates there is something wrong with being a regular, red blooded, real American.
I suspect Mr Murdock would be insulted to be referred to as an “African American”
I recognize the point you are making, but it is incorrect. The very thing that makes this letter significant is that Mr. Murdock is, in fact, speaking as a black American to a group of people who incorrectly believe that they speak for Black America.
There is also, no doubt, a voyeuristic sense of affirmation that some white Americans get from reading an article like this one. Liberals will point to such feelings when they accuse black conservatives like Murdock of traitorous self-loathing. But, again, Murdock did very much write this particular letter not as an "American" but as a "Black American." Take issue with the term "African American," if you like. I hate it myself. I used it in this case because it is a polite alternative to the word black, which had already appeared in the title. Other than that, there is really no nice way to say this: You are completely wrong on this one.