The parent post was saying that race doesn't need to be the end, because there is simpler explanations for why people want to pull up the ladder behind them. B

The parent post was saying that race doesn't need to be the end, because there is simpler explanations for why people want to pull up the ladder behind them. But using race to close the doors is making it the means, not the end. I think the overall point being made is that these days race is neither purposefully included in either the means or the ends, but due to historical factors accidentally included. Pulling up the ladder for everyone poorer than you will have a disparate impact by race if poverty isn't equal between races, and due to historical reasons it isn't. But that doesn't mean that anything about race fuels the choice of action. The core problem is attributing bad behavior that is caused by something other than racism (such as classism, greed, or just trying to win a non-infinite sum game) can create problems by hampering discussions of the actual root issues. Of course, we shouldn't completely dismiss it as a reason for some people to do what they do. But there has to be a middle ground between saying it is the primary factor and it is never a factor.