Raven Symone continues to remove all doubt she is oblivious to the construct and evidence of racism and how it functions to maintain a power structure.

Let’s say she is detached.

Rodner Figueroa was fired as a Univison network host this week. He was fired for saying this of the first lady.

“Mind you, you know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s part of the cast of ‘Planet of the Apes,’ the film,” Figueroa said.

Symone ask in the clip on The View, “but did he say it in a racist way?”

Rosie Perez holds the point even comments, “I’m sorry, that is racist!”… and more.

Rosie stood her ground, but is there more?

Rosie Perez is to be applauded for standing to her guns. People must understand the foolishness of Symone’s comment cannot be allowed to serve as ammunition for for dismissing the African American plight in this country or removing responsibility for said plight.

Yet, I still wonder if this discussion goes far enough. Is racism really merely calling someone a bad name or making a slanderous reference? Or is racism something bigger?

I fear we might be arguing the symptom of race problems and not the crux of the matter.

SOUND OFF: What do you think of Raven Symone at this point? Was Rosie Perez right? Is racism merely words?