| Editor Note: This survey about race relations in the United States should be viewed with extreme caution. While it gives us a snapshot of the views of 1599 persons, it cannot be extrapolated to any other population. The persons who completed this survey may different from the general population in significant ways. For instance, this sample had a computer or access to a computer and had a self-selected interested in race relations. It is impossible to say whether that interest is more negative or more positive than the general population. However, given that limitation, the results are both interesting and startling. |
| Background This online survey was conducted from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003. A total of 1599 persons completed the survey. Age: Gender: Race: |
| 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? |
| |
Total
|
Black
|
White
|
Other People of Color
|
Other
|
Female
|
Male
|
<= 19 years
|
20 to 39 years
|
40 to 59 year
|
>= 60 years
|
White Male =19yrs
|
New England
|
Mid- Atlantic
|
South
|
Mid west
|
South west
|
West
|
|
Yes
|
77.1%
|
90.4%
|
69.3%
|
77.7%
|
69.4%
|
83.6%
|
68.0%
|
72.9%
|
79.0%
|
81.8%
|
83.0%
|
|
88.3%
|
80.0%
|
73.8%
|
80.5%
|
73.4%
|
78.7%
|
|
No
|
18.2%
|
5.8%
|
28.0%
|
16.6%
|
21.5%
|
11.6%
|
28.3%
|
20.2%
|
18.0%
|
15.7%
|
11.3%
|
|
10.0%
|
17.1%
|
21.7%
|
18.0%
|
19.4%
|
17.4%
|
|
No Opinion
|
4.7%
|
3.8%
|
2.7%
|
5.7%
|
9.1%
|
4.8%
|
3.7%
|
6.9%
|
3.0%
|
2.5%
|
5.7%
|
|
1.7%
|
2.9%
|
4.5%
|
1.5%
|
7.3%
|
3.9%
|
|
|
| How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is: where you live? |
|
|
Total
|
Black
|
White
|
Other People of Color
|
Other
|
Female.
|
Male
|
<= 19 years
|
20 to 39 years
|
40 to 59 year
|
>= 60 years
|
White Male =<19 yrs
|
New England
|
Mid Atlantic
|
South
|
Mid west
|
South west
|
West
|
|
Very Serious
|
28.1%
|
44.1%
|
22.1%
|
25.0%
|
19.6%
|
29.2%
|
26.2%
|
15.2%
|
32.5%
|
39.8%
|
41.5%
|
|
35.0%
|
35.6%
|
32.1%
|
29.0%
|
27.4%
|
24.3%
|
|
Somewhat Serious
|
34.3%
|
36.8%
|
34.4%
|
33.8%
|
30.1%
|
37.6%
|
32.2%
|
32.5%
|
35.8%
|
36.7%
|
35.8%
|
|
35.0%
|
35.1%
|
34.5%
|
36.0%
|
26.6%
|
35.1%
|
|
Not too Serious
|
23.0%
|
12.8%
|
25.4%
|
26.1%
|
29.7%
|
23.5%
|
22.3%
|
35.6%
|
18.3%
|
12.9%
|
7.5%
|
|
11.7%
|
17.6%
|
19.3%
|
23.5%
|
33.9%
|
24.9%
|
|
Not Serious
|
13.1%
|
5.3%
|
16.7%
|
13.9%
|
17.7%
|
8.6%
|
17.6%
|
15.7%
|
12.3%
|
9.5%
|
7.5%
|
|
16.7%
|
11.2%
|
11.9%
|
11.6%
|
10.5%
|
13.8%
|
|
No opinion
|
1.4%
|
1.0%
|
1.4%
|
1.3%
|
2.9%
|
1.1%
|
18%
|
1.1%
|
1.1%
|
1.1%
|
7.5%
|
|
1.7%
|
.5%
|
2.1%
|
|
1.6%
|
2.0%
|
|
| How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is: at your place of employment or school? |
| |
Total
|
Black
|
White
|
Other People Color
|
Other
|
Female
|
Male
|
<= 19 years
|
20 to 39 years
|
40 to 59 year
|
>= 60 years
|
White Male <=19
|
New England
|
Mid Atlantic
|
South
|
Mid west
|
South west
|
West
|
|
Very Serious
|
19.0%
|
29.7%
|
12.8%
|
17.0%
|
18.7%
|
19.1%
|
18.8%
|
12.1%
|
20.3%
|
26.1%
|
24.5%
|
|
28.3%
|
25.9%
|
21.7%
|
17.7%
|
16.1%
|
14.4%
|
|
Somewhat Serious
|
25.0%
|
29.5%
|
21.9%
|
27.7%
|
18.2%
|
28.5%
|
19.9%
|
26.5%
|
24.7%
|
25.2%
|
18.9%
|
|
16.7%
|
26.3%
|
23.8%
|
27.1%
|
19.4%
|
26.6%
|
|
Not too Serious
|
23.8%
|
19.4%
|
25.4%
|
23.1%
|
29.7%
|
24.6%
|
22.7%
|
26.5%
|
25.4%
|
19.3%
|
15.1%
|
|
20.0%
|
21.5%
|
20.8%
|
25.9%
|
29.8%
|
24.6%
|
|
Not Serious
|
29.0%
|
17.1%
|
37.9%
|
28.8%
|
30.1%
|
25.1%
|
35.2%
|
33.0%
|
28.4%
|
24.9%
|
18.9%
|
|
31.7%
|
22.9%
|
29.5%
|
27.7%
|
31.5%
|
30.5%
|
|
No opinion
|
3.1%
|
4.3%
|
1.9%
|
3.4%
|
3.3%
|
2.8%
|
3.5%
|
1.8%
|
1.2%
|
4.5%
|
22.6%
|
|
3.3%
|
3.4%
|
4.2%
|
1.5%
|
3.2%
|
3.9%
|
|
| How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is in health care? |
| 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? |
| How do you think 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? |
