Black Americans Have a Clear Vision for Reducing Racism but Little Hope It Will Happen
Black adults differ by party in their views on racial discrimination and changes to policing
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Black adults differ by party in their views on racial discrimination and changes to policing
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- Black Americans Have a Clear Vision for Reducing Racism but Little Hope It Will Happen
- After George Floyd’s murder, half of Black Americans expected policy changes to address racial inequality, After George Floyd’s murder, half of Black Americans expected policy changes to address racial inequality
- About six-in-ten Black adults say racism and police brutality are extremely big problems for Black people in the U.S. today
- Many Black adults say institutional overhauls are necessary to ensure fair treatment
- Little hope among Black adults that changes to address racial inequality are likely
- Most Black adults say increased focus on racial inequality has not improved the lives of Black people
- Nearly two-thirds of Black adults say the nation’s most recent racial reckoning has not improved the lives of Black people
- Just 13% of Black adults say equality for Black people in the U.S. is extremely or very likely
- Roughly one-in-ten Black adults say equality for Black people in the U.S. is extremely or very likely
- Majority of Black adults say racism and police brutality are extremely big problems
- About six-in-ten Black Americans say racism and police brutality are extremely big problems for Black people in America today
- Majorities say racism, police brutality are extremely big problems for Black people in America today
- Fewer Black adults see economic inequality, health care affordability, efforts to limit voting and quality of K-12 schools as big problems for Black people in the U.S.
- Black adults ages 65 and older are more likely than younger Black adults to say efforts to limit voting are an extremely big problem
- Majority of Black adults have personally experienced discrimination because of their race or ethnicity
- Experiences with racial discrimination are widespread among Black Americans
- About half of Black adults say racism in our laws is a bigger problem than racism by individual people
- Among Black adults, racism in our laws is seen as a bigger problem than racism by individual people
- Two-thirds of Black adults say racial discrimination is the main reason many Black people can’t get ahead these days
- Across most demographic subgroups, Black adults say racial discrimination is the main reason many Black people can’t get ahead these days
- Majorities of Black adults say voting and supporting Black businesses are effective ways to move toward equality
- Nearly two-thirds of Black adults say voting is an effective tactic for helping Black people move toward equality
- Black adults under 30 are among the least likely to say voting is an extremely or very effective path toward equality
- Black adults see supporting Black-owned businesses as very effective at promoting equality for Black people
- Most Black adults say supporting Black businesses is an extremely or very effective tactic toward equality
- Roughly four-in-ten Black adults say Black people owning all businesses in Black neighborhoods would be an effective way to move toward equality in the U.S.
- Younger Black adults are slightly more likely to say Black-controlled community institutions would be effective in helping Black people move toward equality
- Three-in-ten Black adults say Barack Obama is the most important Black leader in the U.S. today
- Nearly four-in-ten Black adults say Black Lives Matter has done the most to help Black people in recent years
- Nearly eight-in-ten Black adults say White people would make good political allies
- Majorities of Black adults say White people would make good political allies
- Nearly eight-in-ten Black adults say Latinos would make good political allies
- Majorities of Black adults say Latinos would make good political allies
- More than two-thirds of Black adults say Asian Americans would make good political allies
- Black adults differ by education and party on the legacy of slavery
- Majority of Black adults say the legacy of slavery affects the position of Black people in the U.S.
- Black Democrats more likely than Republicans to think descendants of the enslaved should be repaid
- Majority of Black adults think descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid
- Black adults who want reparations differ by education and income on helpfulness of cash payments
- Majority of Black adults who want reparations think educational and business assistance would be extremely or very helpful forms of repayment for slavery
- Of those favoring reparations, Black registered voters more likely than unregistered to say federal government should have all or most responsibility for repayment
- Black Democrats and Republicans about as likely to say the federal government should have all or most of the responsibility for repayment for slavery
- Majority of Black adults who want reparations think repayments for slavery are not at all likely in their lifetime
- Few differences on likelihood of repayment among Black adults who want reparations for slavery
- About half of Black adults say policing, prison system and judicial process need to be completely rebuilt
- Majority of Black registered voters say the prison system needs to be completely rebuilt for Black people to be treated fairly
- Majority of Black adults say the prison system needs to be completely rebuilt to ensure fair treatment of Black people
- A higher share of Black conservatives than moderates or liberals say the prison system is extremely or very likely to change in their lifetime
- Black Republicans more likely than Democrats to say policing is extremely or very likely to change in their lifetime
- Black adults differ by education and income in saying that the political, economic and health care systems are extremely or very likely to change in their lifetime
- Black women more likely than Black men to say police department funding in their area should increase
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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