Does anyone still read this stuff?
Ethnic Studies went through a rough patch in the 1980s, when budget cuts and backlash from some politicians forced a lot of Ethnic Studies departments to shutdown. But since then, it's recovered.
Today, there are over 800 Ethnic Studies departments of some sort or another in universities all over the country. Not only is Ethnic Studies alive and well, it's totally thriving.
Nowadays, people kind of take it for granted that the study of ethnic identity and race is an important thing. They generally assume that it's worthwhile to study and understand the experiences and histories of different ethnic groups. That's largely thanks to those early Ethnic Studies scholars, who worked hard to integrate diverse perspectives and outlooks into education.