I am sure that racism does, to a lessening degree as the years go by since American Independence, exists in officialdom. I'm not sure it is necessarily always institutionalised racism (that which often pervades in public office) to blame as opposed to, at times, "partisan selection" or even a mild form of nepotism where the power falls to successive members of the same family to the exclusion of other candidates who may just happen to be of a different ethnicity to the appointee.

When America gained its independence some 240 years ago, racism was rife, especially in southern states where slavery abounded, as well as in areas of the country where, for example, indigenous Americans (Indians) were seen as inferior.

There can be no doubt that in certain parts of the USA, particularly the South, there are still pockets of far right-wing support that would by its nature preclude the appointment of non-white, non-Protestant people to official positions, even with legislation in place. The mind-set of these particular “racists” still has yet to change, be it through the preferable route of education, or otherwise through legislation itself.