Good for you for speaking up, and you were certainly not an embarrassment. If blacks are present and willing to speak for themselves, good for them, and non-racist whites should back them up or even take the lead as needed. If blacks are not present, non-racist whites should speak up on their behalf. Non-racist whites are not trying to take away black voices, but are trying to alter the thinking of racist or often just obtusely ignorant whites. Certain blacks who take offense at this (and shame whites into repeating it) probably have a racism or ignorance problem of their own. We all have a stake in combating racism as we are all part of our society and responsible for its improvement. Racism at this stage is a problem rooted in individual behavior, not something to be applied as a blanket statement towards the entire white race because of things some white ancestors have done. If we are to be held responsible for our ancestors' actions, animosity between the races will never cease.