You may not be a racist, but you are certainly perpetuating the problem. You are reinforcing that it is ok to think of people in those terms.
Now, I have just as much of an issue with the folks who are ultra PC. Our language is ever changing. One year people are disabled, the next they are xyz challenged.
Personally I try not to apply nicknames to people I meet period. I try very hard not to evaluate them before I know them. 9 out of 10 times the judgement is innacurate.
On the other hand there are times when you really need to make pre judgements. Style of dress, how you walk, stand, or generally present yourself has a more to do with it than race though.
Say I had to walk home from work through the city. My path leads me by a low income development. It's late at night. I see down the path two young men dressed in baggy jeans, the latest Jordan shoes, and big baggy sports jackets. One is white and one is black. I would judge them equally based on their appearance and location. I see 2 men walking toward me dressed in suits one white and one black and I wouldn't think much of it.
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