From Google:
racism
noun the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

That article read as race baiting to me. It cited Obama saying thug, then attempted to apply a double standard giving him a pass because he's black. Meanwhile if any white person does it, its a double entendre.

For example, this reads as racist to me:
"I think Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Barack Obama saying it means something different from the white housewife wherever who says it." ~ your npr article

Above, the individual makes a guess about meaning with ONLY race as the deciding factor. That is racist.

Truth be told, idk what color the thugs were in this article, idc. Lock em' all up. A victim doesn't feel any more/less victimized if a white guy does it.