After Boston, Little Changes in Views of Islam and Violence
The public is split on whether Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence among its believers, but there are sizable partisan, demographic and religious differences in views of Islam and violence.
Map: Controversies Over Mosques and Islamic Centers Across the U.S.
This interactive map provides a brief overview, based on news reports, of 35 proposed mosques and Islamic centers that have encountered community resistance in the last two years.
When Labels Don’t Fit: Hispanics and Their Views of Identity
Nearly four decades after the United States government mandated the use of the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” to categorize Americans who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries, a new nationwide survey of Hispanic adults finds that these terms still haven’t been fully embraced by Hispanics themselves.
Blacks’ Views of Law Enforcement, Racial Progress and News Coverage of Race
The Trayvon Martin case has highlighted issues relating to the treatment of blacks by local police departments, the state of race relations in the U.S. and press coverage of African Americans. Pew Research Center surveys in recent years have covered the opinions of African Americans on these and other issues.
Muslim Americans: No Signs of Growth in Alienation or Support for Extremism
While a majority of Muslim Americans say they have endured suspicion and enhanced scrutiny since the 9/11 attacks nearly 10 years ago, a wide-ranging survey finds no indication of increased alienation and anger or rising support for Islamic extremism. On the contrary, majorities of Muslim Americans express concern about the possible rise of Islamic extremism, both here and abroad.
Rising Restrictions on Religion
More than 2.2 billion people — nearly a third (32%) of the world’s total population of 6.9 billion — live in countries where either government restrictions on religion or social hostilities involving religion rose substantially between mid-2006 and mid-2009.
Civil War at 150: Still Relevant, Still Divisive
A century and a half after the firing on Fort Sumter, most Americans say the war between the North and South is still relevant to American politics and public life today. In a nation that has long endured deep racial divisions, the history of that era continues to elicit strong reactions. Nearly half of the public (46%) says it is inappropriate for today’s public officials to praise the leaders of the Confederate states during the war; 36% say such statements are appropriate.
Illegal Immigration Backlash Worries, Divides Latinos
About four-in-five of the nation’s estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants are of Hispanic origin; a new national survey finds that Latinos are divided over what to do with these immigrants.
Anti-Muslim Sentiment Makes News
Coverage of a pastor’s plans to burn the Koran and the controversy over the planned Islamic center completely overshadowed coverage of Sept. 11 commemorations.
Many Say Coverage of the Poor and Minorities Is Too Negative
Pluralities say that coverage of poor people and Muslims is too negative, while somewhat smaller percentages say the same about coverage of blacks and Hispanics. About a third say that coverage of wealthy people is too positive — the highest percentage for any group tested.
