At least for African Americans.
Granted, we regressed from about 1880 to about after WW2 We've come a long way since then though. Is there still racism? Yes of course - on all sides.
But it's wrong to forget about the hundreds of thousands of young white northerners who fought and died to end slavery.
Several of my ancestors were among them.

Edit: Unfortunately we were just getting started abusing native Americans in 1861. We hosed them for 100+ more years. I support much of the federal aid Natives get - but in many cases it causes generational dependence.
Alaska Natives came out better. ANILCA and ANSCA helped and protected them. They are far better off than their southern counterparts. They have loads of assistance and corporation dividends - and it also creates generational dependence and abuse. Bush Alaska has some of the highest rates of rape, substance abuse and child abuse in the country.
I don't know what the answer is, but it's not free handouts, based on race or ethnicity. Aid should be temporary and based on need and merit, without regard to race, religion or ethnicity.