GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Recent surveys in The Gallup Poll Social Audit series, "Black/White Relations in the U.S.," show that black Americans continue to hold much less positive views than do whites on a variety of questions about how fairly blacks are treated in their local communities, and that the divergence between black and white perceptions on these issues has been increasing rather than decreasing. The divergence of views is particularly high in terms of dealings with police, and the latest survey shows that blacks have a significantly less favorable view of their local police than do whites.
Blacks Much Less Likely to Say That Blacks Are Treated the
Same Way That Whites Are in Their Local Communities
The most recent annual survey in The Gallup Poll Social Audit
series, conducted in the late fall of 1999, shows a gap of 38
percentage points between black and white perceptions of whether
blacks are treated the same way that whites are in their local
communities. While nearly three-quarters of whites say that blacks
are treated the same way that whites are, only 36% of blacks feel
that this is the case in their own community. This represents a
significant decline for blacks: as recently as 1997, when Gallup's
first survey in this series was conducted, 49% felt that blacks
were treated the same way that whites were, and the gap between
blacks' and whites' views stood at 27 percentage points.
Regarding opportunities for blacks in their local communities, there are large and persistent gaps between the perceptions of blacks and whites. Blacks and whites differ substantially about the opportunities for blacks to
- Get any kind of a job for which they are qualified (79% of whites say blacks have as good a chance as whites, compared to 40% of blacks)
- Get any housing they can afford (83% of whites say blacks have as good a chance as whites, compared to 53% of blacks)
- Have their children get a good education (86% of whites say blacks have as good a chance as whites, compared to 56% of blacks)
When asked for their impressions of whether blacks in their local community were treated less fairly than whites in six specific situations, whites perceive significantly less unfair treatment. Blacks' and whites' answers differed by between 13 and 37 percentage points.
In Six Situations - 1999
Blacks | White | Gap | |
---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | |
On the job or at work | 47 | 10 | 37 |
On public transportation | 19 | 6 | 13 |
In neighborhood shops | 35 | 13 | 22 |
In stores downtown or in malls | 46 | 15 | 31 |
In restaurants, bars, theaters | 39 | 11 | 28 |
By police | 64 | 30 | 34 |
Among both blacks and whites, dealings with the police are the most frequently cited situations for unfair treatment of blacks. In fact, whites are at least twice as likely to perceive unfair treatment in this situation as in any of the other situations probed, but a 34-point gap nevertheless exists between the views of black and white Americans: 64% of blacks say that blacks are treated less fairly than whites in their local community by police, while only 30% of whites agree.
In what might be considered a wake-up call for employers, the largest gap (37 points) exists in perceptions of blacks' treatment on the job or at work, with nearly half of all blacks (47%) asserting their view that blacks are treated less fairly in this setting.
Blacks Most Likely to Have Experienced Discrimination in
Stores
In addition to these general perceptions, blacks were also asked
about their own personal experience with perceived discrimination
within the last 30 days, across a series of five different
situations.
In Five Situations Because They Were Black - 1999
Blacks | |
---|---|
% | |
In a store where you were shopping | 27 |
At your place of work | 19 |
In a restaurant, bar, theater, or other entertainment place | 19 |
While using public transportation | 7 |
In dealings with police, such as traffic incidents | 20 |
With the exception of public transportation, with which many respondents do not have direct experience, a substantial minority of black respondents claim to have been treated unfairly in the past month alone.
Young people -- and young males in particular -- are especially likely to cite such instances of racial bias. For example, 41% of black males 18-34 years of age say they have been treated unfairly in the past month in a store where they were shopping, and 34% of this same group claims to have had such an experience in dealings with the police, such as traffic incidents.
Global Perceptions of Black and White
Relations
When asked whether relations between blacks and whites in this
country have improved, remained the same, or gotten worse, 28% of
whites and 36% of blacks say they have improved. This gap between
black and white opinions is smaller than it typically is for
questions focusing on local communities, and also, unlike the
"local communities" questions, blacks' views are more positive than
whites'.
A majority of blacks and whites appear pessimistic about the future of race relations in the U.S. In response to a question asking whether relations between blacks and whites will always be a problem for the United States, or whether a solution will eventually be worked out, 51% of whites and 59% of blacks say that race relations will always be a problem. Not only are blacks' answers to this question more negative than those of whites but also, as Gallup has reported since we began asking this question of robust samples of blacks in 1997, the most advantaged blacks (those with the highest household incomes and the greater amounts of formal education) hold the most pessimistic opinions.
Majority of Blacks Have Favorable Opinions of Local and
State Police, Although Still Much Less Positive Than Attitudes of
Whites
Fifty-eight percent of blacks say that they have a favorable
opinion of their local police, and 64% have a favorable opinion of
state police in their local area. While these numbers constitute a
majority, they are significantly lower than the 85% and 87% of
whites who have a favorable view of their local police and state
police, respectively.
Survey Methods
The 1999 results reported here are based on 2,006 telephone
interviews conducted September 24 -November 16, 1999, with a
randomly selected sample of adults in the continental United
States. For results based on a sample of this size, one can say
with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error for
percentages is not greater than ±4 percentage points. The
parallel margins of sampling error are ±4 percentage points
for the sample of 934 white respondents, and ±5 percentage
points for the sample of 1,001 black respondents. In addition to
sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in
conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of
public opinion polls.
Now, let's talk about your community. In your opinion, how well do you think blacks are treated in your community -- the same as whites are, not very well, or badly?
Same as Whites | Not Very Well | Badly | No Opinion | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | ||
Total | |||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 69 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 71 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 72 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 3,036 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 63 | 21 | 3 | 13 | 1,233 |
87 Jan 16-19 | 61 | 24 | 4 | 12 | 1,562 |
80 Dec 5-8 | 63 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 1,549 |
80 May 30- Jun 2 |
65 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 1,597 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 65 | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1,555 |
68 May 2-7 | 70 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 1,507 |
67 Jul 13-18 | 72 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 1,518 |
67 Jun 22-27 | 73 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 1,549 |
65 Apr 2-7 | 65 | 18 | 2 | 15 | 1,531 |
64 Feb 28- Mar 5 |
52 | 24 | 5 | 18 | 1,662 |
63 Jul 18-23 | 61 | 23 | 3 | 13 | 1,573 |
Blacks | |||||
99 Sep 24- Nov 16 |
36 | 49 | 9 | 6 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 43 | 43 | 7 | 7 | 996 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 49 | 38 | 7 | 6 | 1,269 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 37 | 43 | 14 | 6 | 96 |
87 Jan 16-19 | 44 | 44 | 8 | 4 | 150 |
80 Dec 5-8 | 35 | 41 | 16 | 8 | 149 |
80 May 30- Jun 2 |
44 | 31 | 14 | 10 | 190 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 26 | 51 | 12 | 11 | 204 |
68 May 2-7 | 26 | 51 | 13 | 10 | 108 |
67 Jul 13-18 | 44 | 34 | 9 | 12 | 99 |
67 Jun 22-27 | 41 | 49 | 9 | 1 | n/a |
65 Apr 2-7 | 25 | 52 | 10 | 13 | 126 |
64 Feb 28- Mar 5 |
19 | 57 | 18 | 6 | 181 |
63 Jul 18-23 | 23 | 57 | 7 | 13 | 177 |
Whites | |||||
99 Sep 24- Nov 16 |
74 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 934 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 76 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 942 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 76 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 1,680 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 66 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 1,062 |
87 Jan 16-19 | 64 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 1,385 |
80 Dec 5-8 | 67 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 1,381 |
80 May 30- Jun 2 |
68 | 17 | 3 | 12 | 1,393 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 71 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 1,336 |
68 May 2-7 | 73 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 1,392 |
67 Jul 13-18 | 74 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 1,402 |
67 Jun 22-27 | 76 | 15 | 1 | 8 | n/a |
65 Apr 2-7 | 69 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 1,531 |
64 Feb 28- Mar 5 |
57 | 20 | 3 | 21 | 1,478 |
63 Jul 18-23 | 62 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 1,388 |
In general, do you think that blacks have as good a chance as white people in your community to get any kind of job for which they are qualified, or don't you think they have as good a chance?
Have Chance | Don't Have Chance | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 74 | 24 | 2 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 77 | 21 | 2 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 75 | 23 | 2 | 3,036 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 71 | 25 | 4 | 1,229 |
95 Mar 17-19 | 64 | 32 | 4 | 1,220 |
93 Aug 23-25 | 65 | 31 | 4 | 1,065 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 68 | 26 | 6 | 990 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 69 | 23 | 8 | 1,233 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 65 | 28 | 7 | 1,235 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 67 | 24 | 9 | 1,555 |
63 Jun 21-26 | 39 | 48 | 13 | 1,606 |
63 March | 43 | Not avail. | Not avail. | Not avail. |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 40 | 57 | 3 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 45 | 52 | 3 | 996 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 46 | 51 | 3 | 1,269 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 52 | 45 | 3 | 321 |
95 Mar 17-19 | 36 | 62 | 2 | 324 |
93 Aug 23-25 | 30 | 66 | 4 | 307 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 40 | 58 | 2 | 303 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 43 | 54 | 3 | 96 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 43 | 54 | 3 | 102 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 35 | 57 | 8 | 204 |
63 Jun 21-26 | 23 | 74 | 3 | 244 |
63 March | 24 | Not avail. | Not avail. | Not avail. |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 79 | 19 | 2 | 934 |
98 Aug 13-Oct 26 | 82 | 17 | 1 | 942 |
97 Jan 4-Feb 28 | 79 | 18 | 3 | 1,680 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 75 | 21 | 4 | 833 |
95 Mar 17-19 | 68 | 27 | 5 | 837 |
93 Aug 23-25 | 70 | 27 | 3 | 725 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 70 | 23 | 7 | 650 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 73 | 20 | 7 | 1,062 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 68 | 25 | 7 | 1,054 |
78 Jul 7-10 | 73 | 19 | 9 | 1,336 |
63 Jun 21-26 | 41 | 44 | 14 | 1,348 |
63 March | 46 | Not avail. | Not avail. | Not avail. |
In general, do you think that black children have as good a chance as white children in your community to get a good education, or don't you think they have as good a chance?
Have Chance | Don't Have Chance | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 82 | 15 | 3 | 2,006 |
97 May 30- Jun 1 |
76 | 21 | 3 | 935 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 82 | 14 | 4 | 1,229 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 81 | 15 | 4 | 990 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 83 | 11 | 6 | 1,233 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 80 | 15 | 5 | 1,235 |
*62 Aug 23-28 | 83 | 7 | 10 | 1,499 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24- Nov 16 |
56 | 39 | 5 | 1,001 |
97 May 30- Jun 1 |
63 | 35 | 2 | 114 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 64 | 33 | 3 | 321 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 56 | 38 | 6 | 303 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 68 | 29 | 3 | 96 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 61 | 33 | 6 | 102 |
*62 Aug 23-28 | 53 | 41 | 6 | 107 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 86 | 12 | 2 | 934 |
97 May 30- Jun 1 |
79 | 18 | 3 | 746 |
95 Oct 19-22 | 85 | 11 | 4 | 833 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 83 | 13 | 4 | 650 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 85 | 9 | 6 | 1,062 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 82 | 13 | 5 | 1,054 |
*62 Aug 23-28 | 85 | 4 | 10 | 1,390 |
*Question Wording: Negro children
Again, in general, do you think that blacks have as good a chance as white people in your community to get any housing they can afford, or don't you think they have as good a chance?
Have Chance | Don't Have Chance | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 79 | 18 | 3 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
82 | 16 | 2 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
83 | 13 | 4 | 3,036 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 72 | 23 | 5 | 990 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 72 | 19 | 9 | 1,233 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 68 | 26 | 6 | 1,235 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 53 | 45 | 2 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
54 | 43 | 3 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
58 | 40 | 2 | 1,269 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 55 | 42 | 3 | 303 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 47 | 46 | 7 | 96 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 51 | 45 | 5 | 102 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24- Nov 16 |
83 | 15 | 2 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
86 | 12 | 2 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
86 | 10 | 4 | 1,680 |
91 Jun 13-16 | 74 | 21 | 5 | 650 |
90 Jun 7-10 | 75 | 16 | 9 | 1,062 |
89 Dec 7-10 | 71 | 23 | 6 | 1,054 |
Just your impression, are blacks in your community treated less fairly than whites in the following situations? How about (READ AND ROTATE a-f)?
a. On the job or at work
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 15 | 79 | 6 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
13 | 79 | 8 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
18 | 70 | 12 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 47 | 47 | 6 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
42 | 50 | 8 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
45 | 46 | 9 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 10 | 84 | 6 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
9 | 83 | 8 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
14 | 74 | 12 | 1,680 |
b.On public transportation
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 8 | 75 | 17 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
7 | 77 | 16 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
14 | 65 | 21 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 19 | 65 | 16 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
15 | 72 | 13 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
25 | 57 | 18 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 6 | 76 | 18 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
5 | 78 | 17 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
12 | 67 | 21 | 1,680 |
c. In neighborhood shops
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 16 | 81 | 3 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
14 | 83 | 3 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
21 | 74 | 5 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 35 | 60 | 5 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
31 | 64 | 5 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
42 | 53 | 5 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 13 | 84 | 3 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
11 | 86 | 3 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
18 | 76 | 6 | 1,680 |
d. In stores downtown or in the shopping mall
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 19 | 77 | 4 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
19 | 77 | 4 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
22 | 72 | 6 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 46 | 49 | 5 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
41 | 54 | 5 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
46 | 49 | 5 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 15 | 81 | 4 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
16 | 81 | 3 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
19 | 76 | 5 | 1,680 |
e. In restaurants, bars, theaters, or other entertainment
places
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 14 | 81 | 5 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
13 | 83 | 4 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
20 | 75 | 5 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 39 | 56 | 5 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
34 | 60 | 6 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
42 | 52 | 6 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 11 | 85 | 4 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
10 | 86 | 4 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
16 | 79 | 5 | 1,680 |
f. In dealings with the police, such as traffic
incidents
Yes, treated less fairly | No, treated same/better | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
Total | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 35 | 54 | 11 | 2,006 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
33 | 57 | 10 | 2,004 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
34 | 51 | 15 | 3,036 |
Blacks | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 64 | 31 | 5 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
55 | 38 | 7 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
60 | 33 | 7 | 1,269 |
Whites | ||||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 30 | 59 | 11 | 934 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
29 | 61 | 10 | 942 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
30 | 54 | 16 | 1,680 |
Can you think of any occasion in the last thirty days when you felt you were treated unfairly in the following places because you were black? How about (READ AND ROTATE a-e)? (black respondents only)
a. In a store where you were shopping
Yes, treated unfairly | No | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 27 | 70 | 3 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
26 | 72 | 2 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
30 | 70 | - | 1,269 |
b. At your place of work
Yes, treated unfairly | No | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 19 | 63 | 18 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
18 | 63 | 19 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
21 | 77 | 2 | 1,269 |
c. In a restaurant, bar, theater, or other entertainment place
Yes, treated unfairly | No | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 19 | 75 | 6 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
16 | 76 | 8 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
21 | 76 | 3 | 1,269 |
d. While using public transportation
Yes, treated unfairly | No | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 7 | 68 | 25 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
6 | 68 | 26 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
6 | 81 | 13 | 1,269 |
e. In dealings with the police, such as traffic incidents
Yes, treated unfairly | No | DK/Refused | Sample Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | ||
99 Sep 24-Nov 16 | 20 | 66 | 14 | 1,001 |
98 Aug 13- Oct 26 |
16 | 65 | 19 | 996 |
97 Jan 4- Feb 28 |
15 | 79 | 6 | 1,269 |