So, after four days of discussions, networking, exchanging ideas, handshakes and sometimes raucous partying at the Congressional Black Caucus' annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., this weekend, we get to the question of whether America has become a post-racial nation.

You already know how I feel about that question: hell no! How could it be when, in the entire history of human civilization, no republic monarchy, oligarchy or dictatorship has ever been post-racial?

I listened to Dr. James Peterson, a professor at Bucknell University, on this very subject, and he summed it up better than I could. He gave the top 10 reasons why America ain't post racial. Here's a summary:

10. Because Prof. John Hope Franklin would say it is not and would turn over in his grave at the very suggestion.

9. Because Dr. Henry Louis Gates, who ironically was one of the proponents of defining America as post-racial, was arrested for breaking in to his own damn house.

8b. Because Van Jones was politically forced out of his job based on the machinations of racist right-wingers.

8a. Because "commentators," such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and others, continue to fan the flames of racial hatred.

7. Because black folk have not rallied around ACORN or acknowledged its role in our communities.

6. Because white college students still call black college students "niggers" behind closed doors, to their faces and on Facebook.

5c. Because Roger Stevens hit Sonya Matthew's daughter in a Wal-Mart because he was frustrated with the child's crying. (Isn't that what kids do?)

5b. Because of Troy Dale West's attack on Army reservist Tasha Hill at a Cracker Barrel (hmmm) for watching out for her own daughter.

5a. Because white supremacist whackjob James Von Brunn attacked the Holocaust Museum in Washington and killed guard Steven T. Jones, a black man who simply opened the door for him.

4a. Because Chris Brown's amnesia indicates that we refuse to acknowledge how race and gender issues intersect.

4b. Because given the history of black artists who are snubbed at awards shows, Kanye West told a truth when he snatched the mic from Taylor Swift and declared Beyonce had the best video.

3. Because Peterson's own children, who go to a mostly white school in Pennsylvania, Wisc., have to confront racism every day, even with white parents calling the school to say they want their children moved away from his.

2. Because two Southern white former presidents can speak more frankly about race than our own first African American president.

... and the No. 1 reason America is not a post-racial country:

1. Because we live in America. The history and legacy of this nation is inextricably linked with race in both positive and negative ways. Do we really want to be post-racial?