B.S.
It is a politician pandering to racist bigots who choose to be racist bigots, no different than Lester Maddox in his prime.
Blacks are humans, with free will, no different from any other human. To excuse this group of "leader's" brand of racist bigotry as "ensnared" is condescending, and excuses their active and willing participation. Either they are equal adults, including being responsible for their own prejudices, or they aren't. Either they can be discerning voters who recognize manipulation by politicians, or they aren't worthy of the franchise. I cut them zero slack.
Anyway. . .I don't disagree with what you said, at all. . its just not the whole story. ..there is more to be discussed when we talk about obstacles to racial understanding. ..for example. ..one of the problems is that we have such a dearth of descriptive, accurate language to describe our struggles to eclipse the racial divide. The term "racism" is mostly, on both sides, misused. Not everything that divides whites and blacks can be described as "racism." However, that which divides whites and blacks needs to be understood and resolved.
You won't get there, though, snorting about African-Americans in Durham supporting Nifong being comparable to Lestor Maddox's crimes. They are both bad and maybe even, equally bad. . .but they are definately not the same thing (although they are related, for sure).