Ethnic demographics and crime rates are correlated, so it would be a mistake to dismiss concerns over crime in an area as a "race thing". People may have legitimate concerns about an area not necessarily driven by racial animus in Oakland, Baltimore, Detroit, DC, Atlanta, and etc.

Because of the correlation between crime and demographics, it might be tempting to publicly call out concerns about high crime neighborhoods as examples of racism, but I still wouldn't check your iPhone on the street at night in Oakland.