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Race Relations in the United States Survey 2001 (n=531)
Vernellia R. Randall The University of Dayton
In your view, are racial minorities in the United States today routinely discriminated against? |
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is: where you live? at your place of employment or school? in the practice of law? in the administration of justice? |
Do you think that relations between racial minorities and whites will always be a problem for the United States or that a solution will eventually be worked out? |
How do you think white people feel about minorities? minorities feel about white people? |
Who do you think is more responsible for poor status of race relations in America? |
On the whole, do you think most white people want to see minorities get a better break, or do they want to keep minorities down or don't you think they care either way? |
Over the last 10 years, how has the quality of life changed for minorities? |
What do you think about racial minorities chances for good employment? chances of getting a good education? chances of being stopped by a police officer? chances of being imprisoned? |
As you may have heard, a number of black churches have been destroyed by fire in the United States over the last few years. |
Demographics |
In your view, are racial minorities in the United States today routinely discriminated against?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & Older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Yes |
92.2% |
79.0% |
79.2% |
89.3% |
83.5% |
75.7 |
82.0% |
84.6% |
95.5% |
91.8% |
86.1% |
87.3% |
86.9% |
No |
5.8% |
19.1% |
18.9% |
9.4% |
13.7% |
20.0 |
14.9% |
13.6% |
3.9% |
6.2% |
13.0% |
10.9% |
12.3% |
No Opinion |
1.9% |
1.9% |
1.9% |
1.3% |
2.7% |
4.3 |
3.1% |
1.8% |
.6% |
2.1% |
.9% |
1.8% |
.8% |
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is where you live?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Not Serious |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not too Serious |
22.6% |
36.4% |
33.3% |
27.5% |
27.2% |
41.2 |
44.8% |
19.8% |
15.6% |
23.7% |
24.1% |
24.5% |
33.3% |
Somewhat Serious |
33.8% |
39.6% |
40.7% |
35.9% |
36.7% |
36.8 |
40.1% |
40.7% |
26.6% |
30.9% |
33.3% |
36.4% |
38.0% |
Very Serious |
42.3% |
24.0% |
20.4% |
35.6% |
33.9% |
22.1 |
13.0% |
38.3% |
57.1% |
44.3% |
42.6% |
35.5% |
27.1% |
No Opinion |
1.3% |
|
5.6% |
1.0% |
2.2% |
|
2.1% |
1.2% |
.6% |
1.0% |
|
3.6% |
1.6% |
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is at your place of employment or school?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Not Serious |
18.4% |
27.6% |
48.1% |
23.1% |
27.5% |
33.3 |
33.0% |
23.8% |
13.7% |
21.9% |
23.9% |
20.0% |
27.7% |
Not too Serious |
19.0% |
28.2% |
20.4% |
22.8% |
21.4% |
24.6 |
28.4% |
22.0% |
13.7% |
19.8% |
16.5% |
25.5% |
24.6% |
Somewhat Serious |
32.5% |
26.9% |
9.3% |
30.0% |
24.7% |
21.7 |
25.8% |
26.2% |
34.0% |
28.1% |
25.7% |
29.1% |
28.5% |
Very Serious |
28.2% |
13.5% |
16.7% |
22.5% |
21.4% |
14.5 |
10.3% |
25.6% |
34.6% |
29.2% |
28.4% |
22.7% |
16.9% |
No Opinion |
2.0% |
3.8% |
5.6% |
1.6% |
4.9% |
5.8 |
2.6% |
2.4% |
3.9% |
1.0% |
5.5% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is in the practice of law?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Not Serious |
5.2% |
7.8% |
11.1% |
3.9% |
10.5% |
16.2 |
9.4% |
7.1% |
2.6% |
3.1% |
10.2% |
8.2% |
7.1% |
Not too Serious |
7.2% |
13.6% |
11.1% |
8.5% |
10.5% |
17.6 |
15.7% |
7.1% |
4.5% |
8.2% |
7.4% |
13.6% |
8.7% |
Somewhat Serious |
21.6% |
32.5% |
44.4% |
30.8% |
22.1% |
25.0 |
37.7% |
22.6% |
19.5% |
20.6% |
22.2% |
17.3% |
33.9% |
Very Serious |
61.0% |
40.3% |
25.9% |
51.5% |
50.3% |
38.2 |
32.5% |
56.0% |
68.8% |
63.9% |
50.9% |
55.5% |
44.1% |
No Opinion |
4.9% |
5.8% |
7.4% |
5.2% |
6.6% |
2.9 |
4.7% |
7.1% |
4.5% |
4.1% |
9.3% |
5.5% |
6.3% |
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is in the administration of justice?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Not Serious |
3.6% |
9.0% |
11.3% |
4.9% |
7.2% |
13.0 |
9.3% |
4.8% |
3.3% |
3.1% |
11.9% |
3.6% |
5.4% |
Not too Serious |
7.8% |
7.7% |
22.6% |
8.5% |
9.4% |
11.6 |
14.0% |
8.3% |
4.6% |
4.2% |
7.3% |
12.7% |
7.8% |
Somewhat Serious |
19.9% |
33.5% |
34.0% |
27.0% |
23.9% |
29.0 |
37.8% |
21.4% |
14.4% |
21.9% |
17.4% |
24.5% |
31.0% |
Very Serious |
65.0% |
46.5% |
30.2% |
55.7% |
57.2% |
44.9 |
34.2% |
62.5% |
75.8% |
67.7% |
57.8% |
54.5% |
53.5% |
No Opinion |
3.6% |
3.2% |
1.9% |
3.9% |
2.2% |
1.4 |
4.7% |
3.0% |
2.0% |
3.1% |
5.5% |
4.5% |
2.3% |
Do you think that relations between racial minorities and whites will always be a problem for the United States or that a solution will eventually be worked out?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Will always be problem |
65.5% |
56.1% |
60.4% |
64.5% |
60.2% |
61.4 |
61.9% |
62.3% |
62.3% |
58.3% |
64.2% |
61.1% |
69.5% |
Will eventually be worked out |
30.3% |
38.1% |
34.0% |
31.9% |
33.1% |
30.0 |
30.9% |
32.3% |
36.4% |
37.5% |
32.1% |
32.4% |
27.3% |
No opinion |
4.3% |
5.8% |
5.7% |
3.6% |
6.6% |
8.6 |
7.2% |
5.4% |
1.3% |
4.2% |
3.7% |
6.5% |
3.1% |
How do you think white people in the United States feel about minorities?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Only a few white people dislike minorities |
25.3% |
41.0% |
29.6% |
30.9% |
29.3% |
38.6 |
40.7% |
31.0% |
17.1% |
29.9% |
30.3% |
30.3% |
28.9% |
Many white people dislike minorities |
56.3% |
44.9% |
53.7% |
53.7% |
52.5% |
44.3 |
45.4% |
51.2% |
63.2% |
53.6% |
51.4% |
54.1% |
49.2% |
Almost all white people dislike minorities |
12.5% |
7.1% |
11.1% |
8.5% |
12.2% |
8.6 |
5.7% |
11.3% |
16.4% |
12.4% |
11.9% |
7.3% |
14.1% |
No Opinion |
5.9% |
7.1% |
5.6% |
6.8% |
6.1% |
8.6 |
|
|
|
4.1% |
6.4% |
8.3% |
7.8% |
How do you think minorities in the United States feel about white people?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Only a few minorities dislike whites |
26.9% |
27.6% |
18.5% |
25.9% |
24.4% |
24.3 |
29.5% |
22.0% |
26.7% |
23.2% |
31.2% |
22.2% |
25.6% |
Many minorities dislike whites |
60.1% |
53.2% |
63.0% |
61.3% |
55.6% |
54.3 |
52.8% |
61.9% |
61.3% |
68.4% |
54.1% |
61.1% |
54.3% |
Almost all minorities dislike whites |
6.6% |
9.6% |
7.4% |
4.3% |
13.3% |
15.7 |
7.3% |
7.7% |
8.0% |
5.3% |
6.4% |
8.3% |
10.9% |
No Opinion |
6.3% |
9.6% |
11.1% |
8.5% |
6.7% |
5.7 |
10.4% |
8.3% |
4.0% |
3.2% |
8.3% |
8.3% |
9.3% |
Who do you think is more responsible for poor status of race relations in America?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Whites mostly responsible |
46.0% |
30.1% |
22.2% |
36.9% |
40.9% |
30.0 |
25.3% |
38.1% |
56.7% |
55.8% |
41.7% |
29.4% |
30.8% |
Minorities mostly responsible |
5.3% |
7.7% |
5.6% |
3.3% |
9.4% |
14.3 |
5.2% |
7.1% |
6.0% |
1.1% |
7.4% |
8.3% |
7.7% |
Both |
41.4% |
52.6% |
61.1% |
51.0% |
42.5% |
44.3 |
59.8% |
46.4% |
30.7% |
36.8% |
42.6% |
51.4% |
53.1% |
Neither |
4.0% |
5.8% |
5.6% |
4.6% |
5.0% |
8.6 |
3.6% |
6.0% |
4.7% |
2.1% |
5.6% |
4.6% |
6.2% |
No Opinion |
3.3% |
3.8% |
5.6% |
4.2% |
2.2% |
2.9 |
6.2% |
2.4% |
2.0% |
4.2% |
2.8% |
6.4% |
2.3% |
On the whole, do you think most white people want to see minorities get a better break, or do they want to keep minorities down or don't you think they care either way?
|
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Minorities to Get a Better Break |
11.9% |
33.3% |
23.1% |
19.3% |
17.8% |
29.0 |
25.5% |
17.4% |
14.6% |
16.8% |
17.6% |
22.7% |
12.6% |
To Keep Minorities Down |
46.0% |
21.8% |
19.2% |
34.1% |
40.0% |
18.8 |
24.0% |
37.7% |
49.0% |
40.0% |
38.0% |
31.8% |
40.9% |
Don't Care either way |
35.4% |
35.3% |
44.2% |
38.4% |
36.1% |
44.9 |
38.5% |
37.7% |
31.8% |
37.9% |
34.3% |
37.3% |
39.4% |
Over the last 10 years, how has the quality of life changed for minorities? |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
Has gotten better |
46.2% |
55.1% |
59.6% |
48.8% |
51.4% |
60.0 |
61.8% |
45.8% |
40.7% |
38.3% |
50.0% |
57.8% |
43.4% |
Has gotten worst |
21.6% |
7.1% |
7.7% |
13.9% |
19.3% |
7.1 |
6.3% |
13.1% |
30.7% |
28.7% |
10.2% |
12.8% |
20.2% |
Has stayed about the same |
30.6% |
30.1% |
30.8% |
33.3% |
26.5% |
27.1 |
27.2% |
37.5% |
26.7% |
30.9% |
33.3% |
25.7% |
34.1% |
No opinion |
1.7% |
7.7% |
1.9% |
4.0% |
2.8% |
5.7 |
4.7% |
3.6% |
2.0% |
2.1% |
6.5% |
3.7% |
2.3% |
What do you think about racial minorities chances for good employment? |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
As good a chance as whites |
11.6% |
25.0% |
28.3% |
18.0% |
12.1% |
21.4 |
25.0% |
16.6% |
8.6% |
9.5% |
19.3% |
19.3% |
10.0% |
A better chance than whites |
5.6% |
11.5% |
13.2% |
5.2% |
13.7% |
17.1 |
10.9% |
10.1% |
2.6% |
4.2% |
3.7% |
8.3% |
16.2% |
Not as good a chance as whites |
80.2% |
57.7% |
54.7% |
73.4% |
70.3% |
55.7 |
57.8% |
71.6% |
86.1% |
83.2% |
72.5% |
69.7% |
70.8% |
What do you think of racial minorities chances of getting a good education? |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
As good a chance as whites |
24.4% |
37.2% |
45.3% |
34.6% |
22.7% |
30.0 |
43.7% |
27.2% |
17.2% |
21.5% |
32.1% |
33.6% |
25.6% |
A better chance than whites |
2.7% |
8.3% |
13.2% |
4.0% |
7.7% |
11.4 |
6.8% |
6.5% |
2.8% |
1.1% |
3.8% |
5.5% |
8.5% |
Not as good a chance as whites |
68.1% |
51.9% |
35.8% |
56.1% |
67.4% |
55.7 |
43.7% |
64.5% |
75.2% |
75.3% |
57.5% |
56.4% |
62.8% |
No Opinion |
4.7% |
2.6% |
5.7% |
5.3% |
2.2% |
2.9 |
5.8% |
1.8% |
4.8% |
2.2% |
6.6% |
4.5% |
3.1% |
What do you think of minorities chances of being stopped by a police officer? |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
As good a chance as whites |
8.7% |
9.7% |
25.0% |
10.5% |
8.9% |
8.7 |
16.8% |
6.6% |
7.4% |
4.2% |
13.0% |
12.8% |
7.0% |
A better chance than whites |
84.6% |
81.9% |
67.3% |
81.9% |
84.4% |
82.6 |
74.3% |
88.0% |
85.1% |
82.1% |
82.4% |
79.8% |
88.3% |
Not as good a chance as whites |
4.7% |
4.5% |
|
3.9% |
3.9% |
5.8 |
4.2% |
2.4% |
6.1% |
7.4% |
|
3.7% |
4.7% |
No Opinion |
2.0% |
3.9% |
7.7% |
3.6% |
2.8% |
2.9 |
4.7% |
3.0% |
1.4% |
6.3% |
4.6% |
3.7% |
|
What do you think of minorities chances of being imprisoned? |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
As good a chance as whites |
9.0% |
23.2% |
35.8% |
18.5% |
10.9% |
14.3 |
28.1% |
11.9% |
5.4% |
7.4% |
12.0% |
19.3% |
15.4% |
A better chance than whites |
86.0% |
65.2% |
56.6% |
74.5% |
81.4% |
71.4 |
59.9% |
82.1% |
91.8% |
84.0% |
82.4% |
73.4% |
78.5% |
Not as good a chance as whites |
1.7% |
4.5% |
1.9% |
1.3% |
4.4% |
8.6 |
4.7% |
1.8% |
.7% |
4.3% |
|
3.7% |
1.5% |
No Opinion |
3.3% |
7.1% |
5.7% |
5.6% |
3.3% |
5.7 |
7.3% |
4.2% |
2.0% |
4.3% |
5.6% |
3.7% |
4.6% |
As you may have heard, a number of black churches have been destroyed by fire in the United States over the last few years. What do you think these incidents reflect: |
|
People of Color |
Whites |
Other |
Female |
Male |
White Male |
19 & Under |
20 - 39 |
40 & older |
East |
South |
Midwest |
West |
American Society is basically racist |
58.9% |
22.6% |
43.4% |
47.2% |
43.2% |
23.2 |
40.6% |
40.8% |
59.7% |
51.6% |
32.4% |
57.3% |
40.8% |
Isolated incidents |
12.6% |
29.0% |
17.0% |
15.1% |
22.4% |
31.9 |
17.2% |
20.1% |
16.8% |
14.7% |
24.1% |
19.1% |
16.9% |
Other opinion |
21.9% |
43.2% |
34.0% |
30.5% |
30.1% |
37.7 |
34.9% |
33.7% |
18.1% |
30.5% |
34.3% |
18.2% |
34.6% |
Neither |
6.6% |
5.2% |
5.7% |
7.2% |
4.4% |
7.2 |
7.3% |
5.3% |
5.4% |
3.2% |
9.3% |
5.5% |
7.7% |
Demographics
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
African or African Descendants
|
158
|
31.9
|
Asian or Asian Descendants
|
34
|
6.9
|
European or European Descendants
|
157
|
31.7
|
Hispanic/Latino(a) Descendants
|
48
|
9.7
|
Indigenous Persons
|
20
|
4.0
|
MultiRacial
|
24
|
4.8
|
Other
|
55
|
11.1
|
Total
|
496
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
People of Color
|
319
|
60.1
|
Whites
|
157
|
29.6
|
Other
|
55
|
10.4
|
Total
|
531
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
Female
|
309
|
62.7
|
Male
|
184
|
37.3
|
Total
|
493
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
Less than 15 years old
|
33
|
6.6
|
15 - 19 years old
|
162
|
32.6
|
20 - 29 years old
|
99
|
19.9
|
30 - 39 years old
|
72
|
14.5
|
40 - 49 years old
|
60
|
12.1
|
50 years or older
|
71
|
14.3
|
Total
|
497
|
100.
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
19 & Under
|
195
|
36.7
|
20 - 39
|
171
|
32.2
|
40 & older
|
165
|
31.1
|
Total
|
531
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
East
|
97
|
21.7
|
South
|
109
|
24.3
|
Midwest
|
111
|
24.8
|
West
|
131
|
29.2
|
Total
|
448
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
|
84
|
15.8
|
Alabama
|
5
|
.9
|
Alaska
|
3
|
.6
|
Arizona
|
13
|
2.4
|
Arkansas
|
1
|
.2
|
California
|
36
|
6.8
|
Colorado
|
8
|
1.5
|
Connecticut
|
7
|
1.3
|
Delaware
|
4
|
.8
|
District of Columbia
|
1
|
.2
|
Florida
|
22
|
4.2
|
Georgia
|
16
|
3.0
|
Hawaii
|
1
|
.2
|
Idaho
|
5
|
.9
|
Illinois
|
17
|
3.2
|
Indiana
|
14
|
2.6
|
Iowa
|
6
|
1.1
|
Kansas
|
8
|
1.5
|
Kentucky
|
5
|
.9
|
Louisiana
|
2
|
.4
|
Maine
|
2
|
.4
|
Maryland
|
10
|
1.9
|
Massachusetts
|
10
|
1.9
|
Michigan
|
19
|
3.6
|
Minnesota
|
7
|
1.3
|
Mississippi
|
1
|
.2
|
Missouri
|
6
|
1.1
|
Montana
|
1
|
.2
|
Nebraska
|
4
|
.8
|
Nevada
|
7
|
1.3
|
New Jersey
|
7
|
1.3
|
New Mexico
|
3
|
.6
|
New York
|
40
|
7.5
|
North Carolina
|
6
|
1.1
|
North Dakota
|
3
|
.6
|
Ohio
|
25
|
4.7
|
Oklahoma
|
4
|
.8
|
Oregon
|
9
|
1.7
|
Pennsylvania
|
22
|
4.1
|
Rhode Island
|
3
|
.6
|
South Carolina
|
5
|
.9
|
South Dakota
|
1
|
.2
|
Tennessee
|
12
|
2.3
|
Texas
|
17
|
3.2
|
Utah
|
8
|
1.5
|
Vermont
|
3
|
.6
|
Virginia
|
10
|
1.9
|
Washington
|
18
|
3.4
|
West Virginia
|
2
|
.4
|
Wisconsin
|
7
|
1.3
|
Wyoming
|
1
|
.2
|
Total
|
531
|
100.
|
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
United States
|
432
|
81.4
|
International
|
99
|
18.6
|
Total
|
531
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
Frequency
|
Valid Percent
|
United States
|
432
|
85.9
|
Algeria
|
1
|
.2
|
Angola
|
1
|
.2
|
Antarctica
|
1
|
.2
|
Canada
|
21
|
4.2
|
Colombia
|
1
|
.2
|
England
|
10
|
2.0
|
Germany
|
1
|
.2
|
Malawi
|
1
|
.2
|
Mexico
|
1
|
.2
|
Nicaragua
|
1
|
.2
|
Philipines
|
2
|
.4
|
United States Minor Outlying Islands
|
28
|
5.6
|
Western Sahara
|
1
|
.2
|
Yemen
|
1
|
.2
|
Total
|
503
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
|