I don't think real leftists have much tolerance for racism. There was racism in the USSR and in eastern Europe but pure Marxism seems to hold all workers as being equal. My supposition is that AK wouldn't fit into a real leftist society and Oregon is as close as you get in the USA.
In my experience you are right. This one time, at commie band camp, I was admonished for referring to a guy in a group as "the black guy" (I was told he could be pointed out as the "guy in the yellow shirt", which was true). May sound funny, may sound excessive, but it did cause me to think about what I personally, through mere habit, consider to be significant attributes about people, esp. ones I don't know. [And don't forget one of the best statements about racism made on TV, "back in the day"--Star Trek's episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield". Youtube has the clip, if you don't remember it.
Honest suggestion, I'm pretty sure you won't consider it. But, let's consider that AK is not really a racist, and that you aren't biased against 'arabs.' More 'Kumbaya" thinking? Or common sense, considering the evidence. I honestly don't think either of you deserve the racist allegation. c