Ethnicity

Race and Ethnicity
Nov 17, 2014
Background

Conventional racial/ethnic classification

Numbers and trends

Black Migration:

South to North

Urban to rural

Segregation/white supremacy

Legal/political changes
Racial attitudes

“Traditional” prejudice

Decline of traditional prejudice


Extent today

Who is prejudiced
Black/white opinion today
Public Opinion, 1939
Do you think...
A. There should be laws compelling Negroes to
live in certain districts 41%
B. There should be no laws, but there should be
an unwritten understanding, backed up by social
pressure, to keep Negroes out of the
neighborhoods where white people live 42%
C. Negroes should be allowed to live wherever
they want to live, and there should be no laws nor
social pressure to keep them from it? 13%
Public Opinion, 1944 and 1999
1944 In general, do you think Negroes are as
intelligent as white people--that is, can they
learn just as well if they are given the same
education?
Yes: 44%; No 47%; DK 8% (whites only)
1999: In general, do you think black people are
more intelligent than whites, less intelligent than
whites, or about the same?
More 3%; Less 1%; About the same 92%; DK 4%
Beliefs about Discrimination
For each of the following groups, please tell me if you
feel they are receiving too many special advantages,
receiving fair treatment, or being discriminated against.
How about... blacks... --are they receiving special
advantages, receiving fair treatment, or being
discriminated against?
White
Black
Special Advantages
19%
1%
Fair Treatment
40%
20%
Discriminated Against
35%
72%
Beliefs about Discrimination (2)
For each of the following groups, please tell me if you
feel they are receiving too many special advantages,
receiving fair treatment, or being discriminated against.
How about... whites... --are they receiving special
advantages, receiving fair treatment, or being
discriminated against?
White
Black
Special Advantages
11%
35%
Fair Treatment
63%
46%
Discriminated Against
21%
12%
How serious a problem do you think
racial discrimination against blacks
is in this country? (2010)
White
Black Hisp
Very Serious
12%
38%
23%
Somewhat serious
39%
43%
51%
Not too serious
35%
18%
21%
Not at all serious
14%
1%
6%