race

On this one, we appear to agree (at least for the most part).

Race is a social construction, nonetheless real in its consequences.

[Race, in reality, is basically synonymous with ethnicity, but based on
some superficial physical characteristics as opposed to language, or
religion or some non-physical criteria.  So race/ethnicity and sex/gender
are not parallel constructions, as is commonly presented.  Gender is based
on an underlying biological difference (sex), while racial/ethnic 
categories are not.]

So when whites say "let's just stop talking about race, including let's
abolish affirmative action," it's just a way of continuing to enjoy white
skin privilege, (ie, white supremacy, ie, structural racism) and failing
to redress the historic legacy and ongoing reality of white supremacy.  In
other words, it's not mainly the language that is racist, (whites love 
that idea -- let's just stop talking about race!), it's behavior, and the
lack of behavior.

RH