I think that Gene's right. We live in a society that has elevated preferences between cultural (or racial) characteristics to be labeled "racism." Those who want to scream racism over any mention of differences between races want to ignore that there are obvious differences between cultures. Race doesn't always equal culture, but for many, it does. My psychology professor talked about an experience that she had when she was still a school psychologist. We had a shooting here at one of the schools and she was invited to come to the school to help the kids deal with it. It was a difficult assignment for her because the school was in an area of town that was predominately black. She observed the difference between how the black community expressed it's anguish and mourning, as opposed to other kids. (this was a highschool) The black community was very vocal, very out there about their feelings while the other kids were more reserved. It was difficult for her just because she wasn't used to it and it took some getting used to. I know a lot of people who would have labeled her a racist and said that she was creating stereotypes, regardless of the fact that she was using her own observations to make form her opinions.
Take that a little bit further and I can be considered a racist because there are many cultural differences that make me uncomfortable. I don't know if it's a Hispanic trait across the board, we seem to have more Cuban's here than Mexican's - but in those cultures, the men have a tendency to be very direct with their eye contact and size people up. If it's a female that they're looking at, (me) then if what they see is something they like, they continue to stare and sometimes make it quite clear that they approve of what they see. If it's a male, (my husband) then it's a look based more in male "sizing up." I used to think that it was just a rude - creepy Hispanic thing but I realized recently that it's just a cultural difference. I still don't like it, it still makes me uncomfortable and because of that, if I'm walking down the street by myself and I see that I'm going to walk past two Hispanic men, I will be more likely to avoid them or feel uncomfortable as I walk by them.
People get upset and call that stereo-typing...but if something like that is a cultural trait, that can be found more times than not within a specific culture...then how is it stereo-typing? I'm an intelligent human being, I can distinguish that there are those of a particular culture who do not embrace all of the traits of their culture. Some who even specifically distance themselves from them. The fact is though, that differences make us stand out. If I'm in a room full of cultural diversity, yet no one is actively embodying characteristics of their culture, then race/culture becomes a non-issue very quickly - if it was even noticed at all. Put me in a room where individuals ARE embodying characteristics of their culture, obviously - I'm going to notice, and personally - there are going to be some which make me uncomfortable. I tend to be a very reserved, quiet, kind of private individual. I also have difficulty understanding people with heavy accents. If your culture embraces loud talking, large gesticulations, a lot of touchy feely, a heavy accent or an urban vernacular then I'm probably going to stand on the opposite side of the room from you. Yet, as others have mentioned, merely pointing out these cultural differences or, god forbid, linking a personal preference or dislike with a cultural difference, can easily get one labeled a racist.
But, to be honest, I don't necessarily think that this begins and ends with race. I think it's an extension of a lot of the new PC victim mentality. It extends to just about any "minority" whether it be race, sexual identification or gender. There is a HUGE difference between those actions which are aggressive or which would infringe on an individuals natural rights as a human being, that are fueled by a hatred or feeling of superiority of another group and merely basing ones actions on a preference or dislike of said group's general characteristics. The advancement of more and more of a PC culture is blurring those lines though.
It just fuels a theory that I have which states that groups who have been oppressed nearly always become the oppressors and that isn't confined to race at all.