PE's context is fighting back against oppression, which was what the Thomas N. Todd sample is talking about. Specifically playing along with the system at the time in which many blacks were second class citizens rather than standing up for ones rights.

In the article he mentions his employees wanting to avoid a direct fight, that is not the same as switching sides!

If you listen to the quote in context it's obvious Todd's main point is not not fighting but joining the other side (He stretches out "swwwwwiiiiiitch").

The author's not a journalist by trade so I'll cut him some slack, he's ignorant rather than lazy.