As I said in the OP, pointing to the importance of winning over POC (in terms of winning the nomination and then the presidency) is not akin to accusing people of being racists. Yet it seems that's precisely how quite a few people responded to a very basic and benign point that was made throughout the primary season. As I also said in the OP, I'm sure there have been some accusations of racism. You can always find examples of just about anything (and some of those accusations were likely warranted). Exceptions prove the rule, but some have taken exceptions and made them the rule. DU is littered with straw man arguments, and a big reason why is that perceptions don't match reality.

And I don't think people were being told to shut up because they were attempting to discuss racism. I think it had more to do with people being dismissive of POC, particularly those who live in southern states, and the importance of racism.

The Nation of Islam stuff "may be a bit of a stretch." Uh, yeah, it may be.