I liked the bit about not beating ourselves up over it. I'd agree with most of what you wrote and that we are all to a degree racist. Or at least, xenophobic (which I / everyone else seem to use interchangeably half the time so I take them to mean pretty much the same thing, essentially).

So, yeah, we mustn't think too bad of ourselves and we can adjust our however-instinctive racist feelings. It just takes a little more effort and the knowledge the world will almost certainly run that little bit more smoothly if we at least try.

Is it natural? We're just the civilised animal so, yes, I'd say it is. Lots of mammals like their territories, defending them to the death against those who cross over boundaries often marked with excrement.

We're mostly above all that but yes, it will forever linger in our collective psyche, a fear / dislike of foreigners / other races.

So, I wasn't at all shocked ;) and like to think I mostly have it under control by being fairly colour-blind so to speak.

Interesting post and something that will forever be relevant.