Actually that's not correct Baz. For example, for centuries the "Irish race" (this was the actual term used) was considered by the English ruling class as inferior... despite both races being equally pale-skinned.
I think making 'race' a black-and-white issue (*cough*) consequently ignores many of the issues between cultures and nations today. It's assuming two groups of people are the same because they're the same skin colour(?!), despite any ongoing conflicts or unrest between those two groups. That's way too simple a view.
As far as I understand, the UN classes "racial" and "ethnic" as the same thing.