"Is irrelevant" and "should be irrelevant" are two different things. Fighting by saying the issues are not there—regardless of your actual opinion—has rarely, if ever, worked. It's the same as the "I don't see color" argument.
Also, why would we exclude philosophical discussion? The point is to make you think. I also don't know who this particular person is in the OP, but the question itself has no bias. Maybe this highlights our philosophical differences, but I firmly believe that understanding a system is the most crucial step to revolutionizing it.
Yes. That was my point. Check your privilege. You don't have to be a flagrant racist to subconsciously make decisions and judgements based on race (and gender).
I'm not going to explain how inherent and human biases work. If you care to start making a difference, then it's up to you to understand that you're not perfect and learn how to start changing how you see and affect the world beyond your idealist rose-colored glasses.
I don't have to.