This is true. Why in God's name would the Wal-Mart incident even make national news? Who really cares? It's hardly even worth local news. So some kid pulled a prank, come on...
Yes, I think you are probably right. I doubt "racial feelings" have really changed all that much in the last 20 years. Just show them big camera's on the 2 or 3 incidents and everyone will think that "racism" is coming back to America.