Sociologists could give you a litany of reasons....but it's a fact of life.
Really? So knowing the race makes a difference?
Make a difference in what regard?? I'm only talking in generalities, but I wouldn't choose to remain ignorant of the way people behave in certain circumstances.
What does race identification do? Does it change anything? The only use for racial identification is when the assailant has to be identified. Look at the act not the race, attack the act not the race but the news has to use race to sell and get viewers.