For Many Black Americans, Family Extends Beyond Birth and Legal Ties
Black Americans share emotional and financial support with relatives and non-relatives they consider family.
Black Americans
We explore the diverse views and experiences of Black people in America with in-depth surveys and other research. Our work focuses on three themes: Black identity, the economic and social mobility of Black people in America, and Black representation in American political and social life. This work is part of our wider race and ethnicity research portfolio.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tanya Arditi
tarditi@pewresearch.org
202.419.3623
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Black Americans
Publications
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Most black adults say race is central to their identity and feel connected to a broader black community
About three-quarters of black adults in the U.S. say that being black is extremely or very important to how they think about themselves.
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From the archives: 50 years ago: Mixed views about civil rights but support for Selma demonstrators
In 1965, America’s verdict on Selma was clear: Polling showed the public clearly siding with the demonstrators, not with the state of Alabama.
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In a rising number of U.S. counties, Hispanic and black Americans are the majority
In a growing number of U.S. counties, a majority of residents are Hispanic or black, reflecting the nation’s changing demographics.
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Younger, college-educated black Americans are most likely to feel need to ‘code-switch’
Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than whites to say they feel a need to change the way they talk around people of other races and ethnicities.
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Most Americans say the legacy of slavery still affects black people in the U.S. today
Black adults are particularly likely to say slavery continues to have an impact: More than eight-in-ten say this is the case.
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From police to parole, black and white Americans differ widely in their views of criminal justice system
Attitudes vary considerably by race on issues including crime, policing, the death penalty, parole decisions and voting rights.
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For black Americans, experiences of racial discrimination vary by education level, gender
Certain black Americans – particularly those who are college educated or male – are more likely to say they’ve faced certain situations because of their race.
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The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking
Blacks have long outnumbered whites in U.S. prisons. But a significant decline in the number of black prisoners has narrowed the gap.
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Key findings on Americans’ views of race in 2019
Many Americans say the country hasn’t gone far enough in giving black people equal rights with whites. Most believe slavery continues to impact black people’s status.
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Black Muslims account for a fifth of all U.S. Muslims, and about half are converts to Islam
About half of black Muslims are converts to Islam, a relatively high conversion level. Black Muslims, like black Americans overall, have high levels of religious commitment.
