But here's a thread where it's being justified?
I'd have thought the natural reaction is to say 'I didn't think that was racist - ooops' isn't it, if a black man says they think it's racist? It's not like there aren't plenty of other animals you can use for an insult. A blubbery walrus might be a start! If that doesn't work, how about an asthmatic polar bear?
I can see the connotations, why a water buffalo is an... odd choice for an insult. There can be many things I say that I may unwittingly cause offence, but unless it's utterly bonkers, with no grounding in any kind of logic, then it's no great shakes to just move on, and vary my behaviour. If Akinfenwa thinks it's racist, it's better, surely, to ask why he might, rather than jump on him for saying it? Even the person who posted it is happy to ask why it might be.
I dunno, maybe I've got it wrong, and everybody *is* asking why it might be racist, so they can't use it themselves anymore! I'd have thought the choice of animal in terms of appearance and origin (a lazy generalisation of from being 'over there' is sufficient) is enough to at least understand why he might find it racist.
I may not, but I'm not convinced I really matter in this particular judgement.