And now, a white guy overthinks racism

Today, I came across an essay where the writer brings up something she calls 'hipster racism': people who say things perceived as racist who claim the comments aren't meant to be taken seriously. The writer's argument is that even ironic racism is bad, and that people who use it are horrible people whom we should look down upon.

In some ways, the essay has its own problems.
Claim: the hipster lifestyle is racist.
Reason: hipsters cause gentrification.
Why that's a load of crap: Is gentrification even racist? I mean, people have the right to buy houses and apartments wherever they want. It's not like hipsters are violently forcing people from their homes. It also bothers me to say that certain neighborhoods are supposed to be Mexican or African American or any other particular group. You only need two 'whys' to get to the truth. Allow me to demonstrate:
Why should hipsters not move into this neighborhood?
Because it's traditionally an African American neighborhood
But why did the African American community live there, as opposed to any other neighborhood?
Because white people wouldn't... oh my god. I'm enforcing segregation, aren't I?
Yuuuuuuuup.

Claim: hipsters are secretly racist
Reason: hipsters use reasons like “having black friends,” “dated an Asian girl once,” or “really liking Mexican food” as their reason why they're not racist.
Why that's a load of crap: Because that line is only used by idiots. I like Mexican food and my current girlfriend is (half) Asian, but the reason why I'm not racist is because I believe that people are fundamentally morally equal.

I admit this much: based on my own experiences, I cannot really actively engage in discussions about race. I don't feel comfortable using derogatory racial slurs, so I don't. But I'm also a standup comic, and I dislike the idea that people are allowed to tell me that there are certain topics I cannot ever use. Within a group of friends, (or even within the context of certain comedy programs) I think there's an understanding that people can (in good humor) make jokes that would appear offensive to an outside observer. When these jokes go beyond that close sphere of friends people not 'in the know' might take offense. The speaker has an obligation to listeners not in the know to tell them what's going on. But the listener has an obligation to not leap to conclusions.

Does racism exist even today? Absolutely. But I think we need a more nuanced approach than just 'no more talking about race ever again'. The essay writer makes the claim "The other favourite hipster defense is, of course, to claim that people are being “too politically correct” or “too sensitive.” [...] Saying that people deserve to be treated like human beings and that discourse should be respectful has nothing to do with being too sensitive, and everything to do with genuinely believing that people should be treated equally."

And I agree, to a certain point. People should be treated equally, but we should treat them as mature individuals who can recognize a joke, and who can laugh about it. I avoid making jokes that might be perceived as racist, but I will unconditionally defend anyone's right to make well-intentioned jokes on the subject of race.