The Harris Poll® “FlashBack” Finds Racial Discrimination Still Seen as Widespread

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-(Business Wire)-January 14, 2009 - In 1969, and again in 1972, the Harris Poll measured the number of adult Americans who believed that blacks were discriminated against in different ways. A new Harris Poll “FlashBack” has repeated the same questions almost 40 years later and found some substantial changes. This poll is particularly interesting because it was taken after the United States had made history by electing its first African American president.

With a few exceptions, African Americans and whites are somewhat less likely to perceive discrimination against blacks than they were forty years ago. However, those exceptions are dramatic. Fully 89% of African Americans and 54% of whites now believe blacks are discriminated against by police, compared to 76% of African Americans and only 19% of whites who believed this in 1969. The bad news is that even more African Americans perceive police discrimination now than in 1969. But it is remarkable that most whites, who did not perceive any police discrimination forty years ago, do so now. That is a huge change that should make it easier to address the issue.

One other area where there has been a large increase in African Americans perceiving discrimination is in treatment by the federal government. In 1972 (this was not asked in 1969), 41% of blacks saw this as a problem. Now fully 62% of blacks believe they are discriminated against by the federal government. If this reflects feelings about the Bush administration, it may change when Barack Obama is in the White House. An ABC News poll finds that 58% of adults think Obama’s presidency will improve race relations.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll, a new nationwide survey of 2,388 U.S. adults surveyed online, including 1,814 whites and 178 African Americans, between December 9 and 15, 2008 by Harris Interactive^®.

Some of the other key findings in this poll include:

Most African Americans believe that blacks are discriminated against in getting full equality (86%), virtually unchanged since 1969 (when it was 84%). A substantial minority (39%) of whites believe this.

Most African Americans also believe they are discriminated against the way they are treated as human beings (75% compared to 77% in 1969), in getting white collar jobs (77% compared to 82% in 1969), getting decent housing (76% compared to 83%), the wages they are paid (76% compared to 73%), getting skilled labor jobs (74% compared to 83%), getting quality education in public schools (67% compared to 72%), and in the way they are treated by the federal government (62% compared to 41% in 1972).
In four areas, the numbers of African Americans who believe they are discriminated against have declined very substantially since 1969:

Getting into labor union (42% now, down from 64% in 1969)

Getting hotel and motel accommodation (29%, down from 68% in 1969) – the biggest change over the last 39 years.

Getting manual labor jobs (34%, down from 58%).

The prices they pay in grocery stores (31%, down from 51%).

So What?

These findings point to the following conclusions:

				1.			The election of the nation’s first African American president has not convinced most blacks, or most whites, that discrimination has been eliminated. Notwithstanding the many gains made by African Americans over the last 40 years, most blacks and many whites continue to believe that racial discrimination remains a substantial problem.
				2.			Police discrimination against African Americans, or the widespread perception among blacks and whites that the police do discriminate, should probably top the list of ways in which black-white relations could and should be improved.

This 40 and 37-year snapshot of public opinion now, in 1969 and in 1972 is the fourth in the Harris Interactive “FlashBack” series that compares and contrasts U.S. public opinion from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s with today on a variety of significant policy issues.

The Harris Poll FlashBack Series

This comparative survey on attitudes about American exceptionalism in 1969 and today, 40 years later is the fourth in a series of innovative Harris Poll “FlashBack” snapshots of U.S. public opinion over time. This FlashBack series will look 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years back in time to learn how Americans felt about some of the most critical topics of their day—the economy and personal finances, sources of energy, the environment, education and lifestyle issues. The series compares and contrasts the results of recent day surveys to reveal how American attitudes have changed or, in some instances, stayed the same over time. It provides valuable insights for federal and state policymakers.

Methodology

This Harris Poll^® was conducted online within the United States between December 9 and 15, 2008 among 2,388 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. The data from 1972 was conducted in person in November, 1972 among 1,505 adults (aged 18 and over). Full data tables and methodology are available at www.harrisinteractive.com.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

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