In US, fed vs local state split -- is also making reforms more difficult, but on the other hand -- it probably prevents monopolization of political opinion + economic will.
So over all the separation is good.
I would like, however, federal laws to be updated to protect people from discrimination due to criminal past.
I think a federal law that prevents employers of asking/using criminal past in hiring decisions -- would go a long way of re-integrating previous offenders back into society.
Probably there are specific federal charges that should be hidden -- but majority must not be used for employers, and must not be asked during job application.
I am a sure if such a law would be in effect, a number of people who resource to additional criminal activity, after previous conviction -- would drop at least 10 fold.
These kinds of changes is a must on a road to a more just society.
Blaming racism (an abstract bogeyman that can never be defeated) and focusing on equalizing outcomes (or meeting a diversity quota) is a problem because it sabotages the real efforts necessary to improve things that have very little to do with race: deeply dysfunctional governance, across justice, education, policing, and in policy-making.
It's easier to say "silent whites are complicit" than it is to ask how we can lift everyone up without tearing others down.