As a pasty, hand-wringing white boy, I find that "folks" is a softer word with basically the same meaning. The phrase "black people" is really easy to infuse with venom - those Ps are easy to spit, accidentally or worse - and is at least one step too far along the euphemism treadmill for me, whereas "black folks" feels a lot softer and kinder.

And as one other commenter says about themselves, I've found that I use the word "folks" for other maligned groups too. I think I used it in a thread about furries the other day.

How the targets of the word take it, I couldn't tell you, but I'd bet I'd find some who'd be fine with it, and others who'd think I'm an idiot. That's just the way it goes.