My own suggestion is that we reserve judgment, of both Mr. Thompson and Barrett because none of us is in possession of all the facts.
It may be that Barrett's two adopted children had such traumatic early lives-poverty, malnutrition, untreated medical problems during infancy--that they have learning disabilities as a result. In that case, ACB was being compassionate by not sharing that information with the world.
As another commentator pointed out, severe medical problems in early life often do lead to cognitive disabilities. This is true regardless of the race of the child.
On the other hand, I do sympathize with the author's point that people of color do not get recognition for their full humanity and their thoughts. In my view, he is correct.
Few white people know about, for example, the Harlem Renaissance and the many authors, painters, and other artists who created works of lasting value.
Part of that reason is that popular culture values sports and entertainment. After all, how many Americans can name a *living* scientist or any scientist at all except Einstein? How many Americans can name a serious writer--and I don't mean of genre fiction writers like Stephen King.
On the other hand, for many Americans, "African American" conjures up images of athletes and not the growing number of people who are nurses, physicians, teachers and entrepreneurs.
