Why racism persists

Racism is flourishing. It is persistent. There are many reasons for it's insidious pervasiveness. A few of the causes of it's longevity and constant sustenance are it's so rewarding, it's so easy, and it feels so natural. Racism provides privilege and nobody gives away privilege today. It's so easy to accept privilege and it's almost impossible to give up or give away today. It's natural because racists shaped the natural order of society so it's no wonder that it's the normal today.
I say today because it was not always this way and it probably won't be in the future but today the norm of society is greed and individualism over sharing and community. These are social conditions shaped and created by racists to assert and maintain racism, privilege, political power, economic power, and oppression.
When social conditions turn toward sharing and community then racism will be easily identifiable but under current social conditions a racist can simply say "I am not racist. You are overreacting. If I offended somebody I am sorry. Let's move on."
And move on is what society does all along the race track or rather all along the racism track built by slavery for modern privilege. Don't inconvenience the privileged with a guilt since greed is the overriding emotion.

Racism is ingrained

Racism is so part of the character of society it exists and persists to the extent that is is the new normal. It can be such because those affected by racism are still by and large effectively marginalized. Once in a while they may call it but the loads of preparation of the new racists are so overwhelming and cliched that a aimless no suffices. There is an assumption that a kind liberal educated normal person is not racist. So claiming racism around these normals simply receive a shrug. A more detailed response might include a litany of readily available truisms. You are sensitive. You are over sensitive. You are reading too much into it. You are mistaken. No no. Do you see how ingrained it is?

Racism is morphing

Racism is still in power. It is morphing in the twenty-first century. It has a face of caring which it always had but the face is turned from the white privileged beneficiaries to include the disenfranchised who have gained some power. It says, "Welcome" even as it builds more walls. While the old rackets scowled and cursed obscenities the new rackets smile and share compassionate commiserating. But the privilege and power remains. when the power and privilege are threatened the scowl returns. The authorities are racist. The guardians of discrimination are kindly racists. The gatekeepers are racists. Those who call for conversation are racists. Those who complain about racists are racist. The fundamentals are unchanged but the tactics are very different. Today you can be charged with racism if you make racists uncomfortable. They believe that those who were maligned should not have their feelings hurt through racist language so why should the racists feelings be hurt because of the guilt of racism. The latest argument made by racists is that it is racist to make racists feel guilty for their racism. And they have the power to implement such rules. So those who are affected by racism should smile and accept that behavior from the privileged and the powerful or face being charged with racism for hurting racists feelings.