What is actually being done about the problem of racism?

Every so often someone (a politician, a celeb, a sportscaster) makes an in-elegant statement, a blatant slur or an off color joke about someone’s race and the entire world is in an uproar. Everyone has an opinion about what was said, what was meant, and how prolific racism is, and someone will state the obvious that “something must be done”, and “that a dialogue is necessary” etc. But in short order nothing is done and everyone goes about his/her business until the Next racist comment. Are we so paranoid about racism that the concept of discussing it terrifies us? What, if anything, is being done about this obvious problem?
And I don’t consider links to songs from Ave Q helpful :-P