Racism created so many problems in the US, including a devastating civil war with 2M casualties, that what seems like an over-reaction is understandable. It's the "nuke it from the orbit" option.

Yes, nuking things from the orbit does have downsides, if you ask me. But if this imperfect tool is something that reliably prevents a new crop of Jim Crow laws, I can tolerate some fallout. (If you think that people are now "civilized by default", and "it can't possibly happen again", look at the Texas abortion law, for instance.)