As others have said, racism is not a red herring. The racially disparate effects of the broken justice system is an essential reason why we all should care about this issue. Middle class whites as a rule do not experience the justice system as the malevolent oppressor poor blacks do. Racism and classism explain that disparity and answers the question, "Why should I care?" for those who do not have first hand experience with these issues. It places the issue in the its proper context: the long, plodding struggle of blacks for equality in America.