Respectability politics is only part of a complete solution. It's not like you choose just "one" tactic and roll with it, of course more needs to be done. That doesn't mean it hasn't been incredibly valuable. In a democratic country, moving your goal post can mean changing the majority opinion of a country, which creates TREMENDOUS momentum once publicaly criticizing someone for the color of their skin is condemned instead of "the common opinion". Or when your goal post is 76 electoral candidates in a 2008 election, I'd say that's pretty damn valuable.

I think you give people too much credit for their own ignorance. Racism isn't purely a choice, it's an ignorance born of not understanding someone else. Culture clash- you look different, you talk different, you dress and act different, I don't get you therefore I don't like you. People are social creatures and they trust what they can relate to- breaking down those barriers to help ease people on the fence in is nothing but valuable.

There's a lot of progress left to be made, but if dressing up nice makes even one person less afraid to consider that who I am and what I represent may not be so bad, then how can I possibly not do it?