the pseudo-scientific expression "race" , with all its sinister historical baggage, should be dispensed with

I disagree (well, I wouldn't mind another term).
'Social class' is also a term which people define differently and with unexact boundaries and nevertheless it is usefull.

Even if you drop the term, you'd have to define for instance in the USA by some agreed upon definition who will have the benefit of minority membership for university admissions. You have to define who is 'black' in the sense of having slightly different admission criteria. Otherwise you couldn't 'level the playing field' (Bobert's expression). If not, you'd quickly have lots of whites feeling 'black' (just on admission day).

You could used another definition (family income, for instance) as has been argued by several in these threads, but the opposition here has been very strong. Ask Bobert if he'd give up the term 'black' for a definition by family income when talking about measure to 'level the playing field'.

You cannot help any underpriviledged group without defining who is counted among them. If you give up the term 'race' (or any replacement of it) you'd give up helping any group which is persecuted for their race.

Wolfgang