Well, no, I think the parent's tone is a bit paternalistic whomever the audience, so I'd say the author should consider writing differently regardless of who's reading. I guess there are several things that rub me the wrong way about the comment -- the paternalism and the implied assumption that HN readers aren't black.

And to the parent, I feel kinda bad now that this is generating this much discussion because I understand there wasn't any malicious intent in the comment but I do feel strongly that what I've said is true.