Racist Republicans?

I am so confused about why I, as a conservative, am constantly labeled a racist. I really don't understand it.

So today for a college cultures / anthropology class I read an article by Ellen Broido about the Millennial generations and the special characteristics they mean for college students. One of her points was about evolving political affiliations and that millennial students often go by modified definitions of "conservative" and "liberal" that do not fit the traditional ideas of those affiliations. She also throws in there:

Conservative political beliefs no longer can be considered a proxy for racial intolerance.

What? When could conservativism ever be considered a proxy for racism? Could it be when (former) KKK member Democrat Robert Byrd and Al Gore's dad filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for 14 hours? Or maybe when Democrat Strom Thurmond filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours? Maybe the idea stems from the fact that 80% of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Do you think that's it?

Anyway, I am sick and tired of my professors and classmates and even my wife's boss telling us that we are (of course) inherently racist based upon our political affiliation.

Do you know why Robert Byrd is going to vote for the confirmation of Samuel Alito? Because he's white.