Ah, you're right that there's a distinction between racism and imperialism--though it seems it's easy enough to conflate white/imperialist. The very title 'What Man's Burden' suggests such a conflation to my mind, though again I don't have sufficient context.

Even though 'White Man's Burden' is actually about US imperialism...
Ohh. I've learned something today.

Interesting that he was having second thoughts about things near his life's end. Which brings up another important point, that a person can change a lot in a mere human lifespan, and that writers may be held to words penned long before. Thanks again for your Kipling comments!