How many commenters have actually read the entire article before commenting? I suspect the answer is "few", because it's clearly stated that the prof is a "her", and that her purpose was to draw attention to a book she'd recently read about the discrimination faced by a black doctor in the medical profession, had the book with her, and was showing it to others and presumably talking to them about it.

She was in costume as the author, promoting the book of the author...hardly gestures of any disrespect...but showing unawareness of how easily, and quickly and vehemently, such demonstrations can be misinterpreted and politicized.

This reminds me of an incident from several years ago, in which a high school teacher used the word "niggardly" in a lecture, to which a black student took offense and complained to the administration and media...the teacher was pilloried...and perhaps forced to resign, although memory isn't clear on that part.