Whatever Coon may personally have felt, the implication for many people was that some races are inherently more advanced, and that some humans could essentially constitute different species.
Of course, the implication here is that journalists have been manipulating reality all along, which is probably not something that as a journalism professor you want to admit.
If you listen between the lines to what Howell is saying, you might find yourself thinking: oh, that's why American airports are often crowded and slow and unpleasant.
By example or by extension, that means added on you're saying: " You're kind of cool, too, because you're wearing it, and I think it's cool, so it's got to be cool and only a cool person would buy it."