It’s not just about advancing a political agenda.
To take your example: Suppose someone from corporate HR called to ask you about your race / ethnic background. You replied, “Well, I’m half Italian and half …”. And they interrupted, “Look, I don’t care about that, snowflake. Just tell me if you are black or not.”
I would find that… off-putting. You ask a question like that, you better be prepared for a range of responses.