Black Americans differ from other U.S. adults over whether individual or structural racism is a bigger problem
About half of Black adults (52%) say racism in U.S. laws is the bigger problem for Black people, while 43% cite racism by individuals.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
About half of Black adults (52%) say racism in U.S. laws is the bigger problem for Black people, while 43% cite racism by individuals.
Black Americans support significant reforms to or complete overhauls of several U.S. institutions to ensure fair treatment. Yet even as they assess inequality and ideas about progress, many are pessimistic about whether society and institutions will change in ways that would reduce racism.
Today, 51% of U.S. adults say they support the Black Lives Matter movement – down from 67% in June 2020. A majority of Americans say the increased focus on race and racial inequality in the past three years hasn’t led to improvement for Black Americans.
Most Asian adults in the U.S. have been treated as a foreigner or experienced incidents where people assume they are a “model minority.”
32% of Black adults said they worried every day or almost every day that they might be threatened or attacked because of their race or ethnicity.
Most Asian Americans say violence against them is increasing, and most also worry at least some of the time about being threatened or attacked.
The vast majority of Asian Americans (81%) say violence against them is increasing, far surpassing the 56% of all U.S. adults who say the same.
We are committed to hearing and addressing the experiences of people of color—as well as confronting racism and working for a better America.
52% of US adults say it is very or somewhat important that companies and organizations make public statements about political or social issues.
While declining shares give police forces positive marks for their use of force, treatment of racial groups and officer accountability, there is little support for cuts in spending on local policing.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
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.
© 2024 Pew Research Center