Actually it does work. Especially in the corporate world I work in. It is alive and well and is productive as ever. It is the sure fire "scape goat" for any situation. I've watched people lose jobs, get jobs, pay raises, pay cuts, demotions and all kind of other stuff by using this one card. Want to get a white man fired or materially alter his career with that company just about instantly. Let a black person, especially a black female go to HR in most larger companies and file a "racial complaint". The final findings of the case is irrelevant. The damage comes when the stigma (along with the documentation in his file that he was accused of a racial grievance) of being a perceived racist follows him throughout his time at that company. That's assuming he's not shortly dismissed after the accusation.
It works in the Army as well. Even for units in combat.
Racial image led to removal of 82nd commanders
The commander in question LTC Jenio, commanded a battalion of paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division. Jenio wanted to lighten up and raise his men's morale, so he allowed them to insert funny images, frequently the "demotivational" posters.
One soldier picked this one:
Racially insensitive demotivational picture
The soldier who picked this one and inserted it in the presentation was black.
The commander had no prior knowledge of the picture (although he had allowed other demotivational pictures in previous briefings).
The Army relieved the commander and his command sergeant major.
I guess it was easier than telling the commander "Hey, that really pushed the envelope of propriety. Rein in your men doing these."
Or maybe the 82nd Airborne Division commander (who relieved the unit commander in question) needs to save his money and buy a set of testicles.