No, it means he’s right.
Being prejudiced is smart. It can keep you alive.
Furthermore people are indeed racist, for lack of a better word.
It is quite obvious that people prefer to be around other people of their own race.
That does not mean in any way that I hate or do not like or am not capable of liking or accepting people of other races.
But in all of my life, the GREAT majority of my close friends have all been white.
I’ll offer even further evidence that he is right.
In prison, when a person has nothing, what people cling to is race. It is in fact the only thing that matters, and it can and will keep you alive.
The word racist has become meaningless. You're right, it's self preservation. Birds of a feather flock together. I've had friends from several parts of the world.
Funny story. My sister's first teaching job was at an inner city Catholic school back in the late 80's in Chicago. (Yes we all thought she was crazy). Anyway, it was a K-8. The youngest ones kept peeping into her classroom and running away. My sister was not sure why, so she asked the principle. He said most of the little ones had never seen a white person in person before. Let me tell you my sister is one of the whitest people you'll ever see. Her skin is practically albino she's so pale and she's blonde.
My sister rather then being upset or afraid, just kept smiling at the kids and in time they were no longer afraid of her.