Thinking it over there's another interpretation for that post which isn not racist, but merely involves recognising the existence of racism.

In a racist society, it can be argued, there is a certain political cost and a certain risk in appointing the best candidate to a job, if that is likely to upset racist voters etc. The appointment of Colin Powell therefore would have involved accepting that cost, and facing that risk. This means that the fact that he is African American is relevant.

Of course even if this interpretation is accepted, there is still the assumption that public servants ought to owe loyalties to those who appoint them which should outweigh their loyalties to the public at large, and that, I would suggest, is totally unacceptable. Personal loyalties should never be given priority over loyalties to the public.