Savages has been used in racist ways for eons absoly, but its not the entirety of the word. Savage, to my understanding, also means being violent/aggressive/nasty in a visceral "subhuman" manner. It conjurs up the idea of a single beast or pack of wolves frothing at the mouth itching to tear someone apart.

Accusations can be savage. Sentences intended to cut a person into pieces can be savage. Violent actions can be savage. People can be savage. Mobs can be savage ("crucify him" being the classic example)

Whenever a person is thirsting to see someone else destroyed or acting out in a bloodthirsty manner, its savage. IMHO, fight sport crowds are savage, and I used to be a big boxing fan. I was being savage. At school, when we'd all run and gather around 2 kids yelling "fight! fight!" we were savages.