I've been hearing this bs line for many years now and have always asked the following questions in response (no one can ever provide a good explanation):
If you have to have power to be racist, how can any individual other than a politician or billionaire be racist?
If blacks are said to not have power, as a group, then please explain why black groups are not subject to the law under the new normal, why they have streets and monuments named after their leaders and why they have special privileges, like affirmative action, diversity requirements and other mandates required by law?
If an individual can't be racist because individuals don't have power, why are you in my face?
