I'm not sure where you're located, but as an American fan of European football, it seems like race is still very much an issue on other continents and not just as a proxy for some other inequality. Just in the last week, there have been at least two instances in the top 5 leagues of fans racially abusing players[1]. Maybe the US is too focused on race (I don't think so), but saying "no one uses it" seems like an indication of the opposite problem.

[1] In Fulham vs Watford and Valencia vs Real Madrid

it almost feels like the elites are pitting us against each other. again.

I can’t think of any societal injustice that could not be undone simply by by floating opportunities opportunities to those in poverty.