Shirley Sherrod and “his own kind…!”

The only aspect of the Shirley Sherrod controversy that I find interesting is related to a phrase she used in explaining her dealings with the poor white farmer. She said, “So I figured if I take him to one of them, that his own kind would take care of him.” http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/07/21/2010-07-21_shirley_sherrod_speech_the_words_that_spurred_a_controversy.html

Now I don’t have a problem with Ms. Sherrod’s use of the phrase. I’m not offended in the least. But, my question is, is it permissible for a white federal bureaucrat to use that phrase (“ . . . his own kind would take care of him”) to describe his/her dealings with an African-American?