Topics At A Glance: Race Relations

Race Relations and Discrimination in the US

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Do you think race relations in this country are getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

University of Phoenix/National Journal Next America Poll, [Apr, 2012]

Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

CBS News/New York Times Poll, [Jan, 2012]

(Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are--very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so.) How about...the state of race relations?

Gallup Poll, [Jan, 2012]

Affirmative Action/Equality in the Workplace

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Which comes closest to your view?...The important thing for hiring and promotion policies is to treat all individuals equally, even if that results in less diversity in the workplace or it's okay to give preferences to certain people if necessary to make the workplace more diverse, as long as the person hired can still do the job well.

Associated Press/National Constitution Center/GfK Poll, [Aug, 2012]

(Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.)...Congress needs to do more to ensure people over 50 continue to have equal opportunity to work for as long as they want or need to--regardless of their age. (If Agree/Disagree, ask:) (Is that strongly or somewhat agree/disagree?)

Sample: National registered voters age 50 and over
AARP Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act Survey, [May, 2012]

Now I'm going to read you some characteristics, and for each, I'd like you to tell me if today it applies more to the average young veteran who happened to serve anywhere in the Armed Forces since 9/11 (September 11, 2001, the date of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon), to the average young person who didn't happen to serve during that time, or if it applies equally to both groups?...Being able to actually get a job

Note: Asked of Form C half sample
The Mission Continues/Bad Robot A New Generation of Leaders Survey, [May, 2012]

Educational Opportunity

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(How well does each of these words describe most blacks?...Extremely well, very well, moderately well, slightly well, not at all)...Intelligent at school

Associated Press/Gfk Knowledge Networks Poll, [Aug, 2012]

Thinking specifically about college admissions...Do you think blacks and other minorities should receive preference in college admissions to make up for past inequalities, or not?

Sample: National youth age 18-25
Millennial Values & Voter Engagement Survey, [Aug, 2012]

Thinking of some different types of people applying for college and applying for jobs, do you think the following types of people should be given preference in college admissions and in hiring, or not?...Asian Americans

Sample: National youth age 18-25
Millennial Values & Voter Engagement Survey, [Aug, 2012]

Minorities and the Criminal Justice System

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(As you may know, the average income for African-American families is only about three-fifths as high as it is for white families. Please tell me if you think each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason African-American incomes are so much lower.) What about...poverty, crime, and poor schools in neighborhoods where many African-Americans live make it hard for people to get ahead?

University of Phoenix/National Journal Next America Poll, [Apr, 2012]

(As you may know, a much smaller percentage of African-American and Hispanic young people graduate from high school and obtain college degrees, compared to whites and Asians. Please tell me if you think each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason that African-American and Hispanic young people don't do as well in school.) What about...poverty and crime in their neighborhoods make it hard for them to learn?

University of Phoenix/National Journal Next America Poll, [Apr, 2012]

Do you feel the opportunity for fair treatment by the police is equal for...blacks and whites?

University of Phoenix/National Journal Next America Poll, [Apr, 2012]

Interracial Couples

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Imagine that a close relative of yours marries a person who is black, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable?

Note: Asked of non-blacks
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, [Jul, 2012]

(Thinking about some issues in the country today, please say whether the following issues represent a critical issue facing the country, one among many important issues or not that important compared to other issues?)...Same-sex marriage

Note: Blacks
PRRI African American & Hispanic Reproductive Issues Survey, [Jun, 2012]

Do you favor or oppose the following issues?...Strongly favor, favor, oppose, strongly oppose...Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally.

Note: Blacks
PRRI African American & Hispanic Reproductive Issues Survey, [Jun, 2012]

Muslims and Arab-Americans

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Do you think the Obama administration has been too tough or too soft on radical Muslim terrorists?

Sample: National registered voters including an oversample of Hispanics
Fox News Poll, [Oct, 2012]

(What is your overall opinion of each of the following groups of people?...Very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, very unfavorable)...Muslim people in general

PIPA/Gfk Knowledge Networks Poll, [Sep, 2012]

Thinking about US (United States) interests, how important an issue is the US relationship with Muslims and Muslim-majority countries?...The single most important issue for the US, among the top three issues, among the top five issues, not among the top five issues

PIPA/Gfk Knowledge Networks Poll, [Sep, 2012]

Vote for a Black for President

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(Between now and the 2012 political conventions, there will be discussion about the qualifications of presidential candidates--their education, age, religion, race, and so on.) If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be...black, would you vote for that person?

Gallup Poll, [Jun, 2012]

(Would each of the following traits in a candidate for president of the United States make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or would it have no effect on whether you'd vote for that candidate?)...The candidate is black. Would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely, or have no effect on whether you'd vote for that candidate? (If More likely, ask:) Is that much more likely or somewhat more likely? (If Less likely, ask:) Is that much less likely or somewhat less likely?

Associated Press/Gfk Poll, [Oct, 2011]

Gallup/USA Today Poll, [Aug, 2011]

From the Archives

HERE IS AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. YOU NOTICE THAT THE BOXES ON THIS CARD GO FROM THE HIGHEST POSITION OF PLUS 5 FOR SOMETHING YOU LIKE VERY MUCH--ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LOWEST POSITION OF MINUS 5--FOR SOMETHING YOU DISLIKE VERY MUCH. HOW FAR UP THE SCALE OR HOW FAR DOWN THE SCALE WOULD YOU RATE THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS? N.A.A.C.P. (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE).

%
13		+5
9		+4
17		+3
14		+2
13		+1
5		-1
3		-2
5		-3
3		-4
11		-5
8		DON'T KNOW

Gallup Poll (AIPO), [Jul, 1973]

During the past 10 years, do you think tensions between blacks and whites in this country have increased, decreased, or stayed about the same? (If increased/decreased, ask:) Is that (increased/decreased) a lot or just a little?

Washington Post Poll, [Jun, 1996]

How common is it for whites to harass or physically attack blacks in your city or town?

Sample: National--White Adults (632) & Black Adults (305)
Note: Whites
Gallup/Newsweek Poll, [Feb, 1988]