First of all, we're making the assumption that I'm white. As always, when people push me on my race, sex, age or sexuality I draw their attention to the Penguin. You have to debate my ideas not my personhood.

I have no doubt that the creative history of US or British literature is littered with racism, I don't deny it exists. The argument I'm making isn't 'let's ignore racism' - the argument I'm making is 'should we think more carefully about the best way to combat racism before we embark on a chosen direction'.

And herein lies the problem, if anyone vocalises any differing opinion, they are immediately accused of being a) racist or failing that b) upholding white supremacy. This is one of the issues plaguing the discourse. I have tried many times to make the argument that an over-focus on identity will come at the cost of genuine social change becuase it doesn't explore the complex and intersecting nature of privilege.

Then you pop up to tell me that the Garrulous Glasweigen is a white woman and she's upholding white supremacy, carefully sidestepping any research that would tell you she grew up dirt-poor on a council estate in Glasgow - that doesn't matter to you, becuase she's white.... and you'll fail to understand at every level why people like her disengage from the discussion. More importantly, when people like her disengage from the discussion you'll find the voting population swings right. And what happens to minorities when voters swing right? You're a smart guy, you work it out.

Your basic accusation is that I'm a racist and I uphold white supremacy because (in your mind at least) I'm white. My response is simple and four words long. Play the long game.