The very hardest working people I've known were black, white, Latino, and Asian! Most of the laziest people I've known are white, as I am. Oregon is surprisingly a very white state & generally I think racism is not a huge issue here. I have to remember that other places the experience is different.
I try to look at the cultural and sub cultural context. By that I mean the positive qualities also, since my growing-up culture was always work your butt off. There have been physical consequences to that...plus family difficulties.