A reader emailed me this morning after reading my column in which I urged President Obama to remain strong and steadfast on the major issues of the day no matter how unpopular they are, such as health care reform. The emailer is not an Obama fan and included various points of criticism in the message, which is nothing new. All presidents face criticism, the fair and unfair kind. What was different is how he ended the message, by saying this: “So much for experimenting with minority presidents.”

It’s easy to assume he’s a racist. Maybe he (or she) is. He didn’t leave a name or say much else, so it’s hard to judge without knowing more about him. Or maybe he’s not and is only operating from a place that his brain is on autopilot — which is the reality for most of us too often, even if we are loathe to admit as much. For years, I’ve been making that case and why I don’t reflexively call people racist or call for the likes of Don Imus to be immediately fired when they say something that can be deemed racist or racially insensitive, because I know that on autopilot, what we often think or do is not done purposefully but is evidence of society’s influence on our thinking. That has now been confirmed by brain research, which is discussed in books such as “NurtureShock” and “The Hidden Brain.” Mybook, “Proud. Black. Southern (But I Still Don’t Eat Watermelon in Front of White People)” also deals with these kinds of issues. I go into even more depth in group and book discussions I lead and single and multi-day seminars I conduct. It’s eye opening stuff and worth your time and money. If your organization wants to learn more about potential dates to hold a discussion or seminar, get in touch with us at tbailey1972@aol.com or through this Website.