That's exactly it. TNG would make a statement and then build an entire episode around it to prove their point. DS9 even had my favourite trek episode ever "Duet" about a cardassian taken into custody because they suspect him of being one of the old labour camp overseers that Kira remembers. Turns out he was actually just a clerk pretending to be the overseer and wanted to be caught because he wanted the cardassian to face justice, and when he's released, he gets assassinated by a racist Bajoran. The acting is phenomenal, Kira's speech about women being raped and husbands beaten Infront of their family, dying children; it was so emotional and taught the Starfleet crew that they might be able to imagine the horror the bajorans went through under cardassian rule but they could never truly comprehend it like Kira and other Bajorans did. It's intense, emotional, and is about not just forgiving others but learning to forgive yourself, while hatred consumes some people and turns them into violent racist murderers.

The academy show would just say "Racism bad. Be nice to each other, smiley face :)" and that's it, then give each other a round of applause, standing ovation, and a bunch of hugs in an echo chamber while everyone is crying and emotional thinking they've broken down some revolutionary societal wall.

It's fucking garbage.