[JohnnyB]

In the case of politics in the U.S. I often think that issues of racial identity are used to divide the lower and lower-middle class, to prevent them from voting on what are actually common issues. It's a very emotionally charged and divisive issue. That's not to say that issues of racial and ethnic discrimination aren't true, cause they are, but the emphasis placed on them deflects from the common issues faced by classes that keep all members of various races from effectively exercising their political will.