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Race Relations in the United States Survey 2001 (n=531)

Vernellia R. Randall
The University of Dayton

In your view, are racial minorities in the United States today routinely discriminated against?
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is:  where you live? at your place of employment or school?  in the practice of law?  in the administration of justice?
Do you think that relations between racial minorities and whites will always be a problem for the United States or that a solution will eventually be worked out?
How do you think  white people feel about minorities? minorities feel about white people?
Who do you think is more responsible for poor status of race relations in America?
On the whole, do you think most white people want to see minorities get a better break, or do they want to keep minorities down or don't you think they care either way?
Over the last 10 years, how has the quality of life changed for minorities?
What do you think about racial minorities  chances for good employment? chances of getting a good education? chances of being stopped by a police officer? chances of being imprisoned?
As you may have heard, a number of black churches have been destroyed by fire in the United States over the last few years. 
Demographics

 

In your view, are racial minorities in the United States today routinely discriminated against?

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & Older East South Midwest West
Yes 92.2% 79.0% 79.2% 89.3% 83.5% 75.7 82.0% 84.6% 95.5% 91.8% 86.1% 87.3% 86.9%
No 5.8% 19.1% 18.9% 9.4% 13.7% 20.0 14.9% 13.6% 3.9% 6.2% 13.0% 10.9% 12.3%
No Opinion 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 1.3% 2.7% 4.3 3.1% 1.8% .6% 2.1% .9% 1.8% .8%

 

How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is where you live? 

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Not Serious 0% 0% 0%                    
Not too Serious 22.6% 36.4% 33.3% 27.5% 27.2% 41.2 44.8% 19.8% 15.6% 23.7% 24.1% 24.5% 33.3%
Somewhat Serious 33.8% 39.6% 40.7% 35.9% 36.7% 36.8 40.1% 40.7% 26.6% 30.9% 33.3% 36.4% 38.0%
Very Serious 42.3% 24.0% 20.4% 35.6% 33.9% 22.1 13.0% 38.3% 57.1% 44.3% 42.6% 35.5% 27.1%
No Opinion 1.3%   5.6% 1.0% 2.2%   2.1% 1.2% .6% 1.0%   3.6% 1.6%

 

How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is at your place of employment or school? 

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Not Serious 18.4% 27.6% 48.1% 23.1% 27.5% 33.3 33.0% 23.8% 13.7% 21.9% 23.9% 20.0% 27.7%
Not too Serious 19.0% 28.2% 20.4% 22.8% 21.4% 24.6 28.4% 22.0% 13.7% 19.8% 16.5% 25.5% 24.6%
Somewhat Serious 32.5% 26.9% 9.3% 30.0% 24.7% 21.7 25.8% 26.2% 34.0% 28.1% 25.7% 29.1% 28.5%
Very Serious 28.2% 13.5% 16.7% 22.5% 21.4% 14.5 10.3% 25.6% 34.6% 29.2% 28.4% 22.7% 16.9%
No Opinion 2.0% 3.8% 5.6% 1.6% 4.9% 5.8 2.6% 2.4% 3.9% 1.0% 5.5% 2.7% 2.3%

 

How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is in the practice of law? 

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Not Serious 5.2% 7.8% 11.1% 3.9% 10.5% 16.2 9.4% 7.1% 2.6% 3.1% 10.2% 8.2% 7.1%
Not too Serious 7.2% 13.6% 11.1% 8.5% 10.5% 17.6 15.7% 7.1% 4.5% 8.2% 7.4% 13.6% 8.7%
Somewhat Serious 21.6% 32.5% 44.4% 30.8% 22.1% 25.0 37.7% 22.6% 19.5% 20.6% 22.2% 17.3% 33.9%
Very Serious 61.0% 40.3% 25.9% 51.5% 50.3% 38.2 32.5% 56.0% 68.8% 63.9% 50.9% 55.5% 44.1%
No Opinion 4.9% 5.8% 7.4% 5.2% 6.6% 2.9 4.7% 7.1% 4.5% 4.1% 9.3% 5.5% 6.3%

 

How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination is in the administration of justice?

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Not Serious 3.6% 9.0% 11.3% 4.9% 7.2% 13.0 9.3% 4.8% 3.3% 3.1% 11.9% 3.6% 5.4%
Not too Serious 7.8% 7.7% 22.6% 8.5% 9.4% 11.6 14.0% 8.3% 4.6% 4.2% 7.3% 12.7% 7.8%
Somewhat Serious 19.9% 33.5% 34.0% 27.0% 23.9% 29.0 37.8% 21.4% 14.4% 21.9% 17.4% 24.5% 31.0%
Very Serious 65.0% 46.5% 30.2% 55.7% 57.2% 44.9 34.2% 62.5% 75.8% 67.7% 57.8% 54.5% 53.5%
No Opinion 3.6% 3.2% 1.9% 3.9% 2.2% 1.4 4.7% 3.0% 2.0% 3.1% 5.5% 4.5% 2.3%
 

 

Do you think that relations between racial minorities and whites will always be a problem for the United States or that a solution will eventually be worked out? 

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Will always be  problem 65.5% 56.1% 60.4% 64.5% 60.2% 61.4 61.9% 62.3% 62.3% 58.3% 64.2% 61.1% 69.5%
Will eventually be worked out 30.3% 38.1% 34.0% 31.9% 33.1% 30.0 30.9% 32.3% 36.4% 37.5% 32.1% 32.4% 27.3%
No opinion 4.3% 5.8% 5.7% 3.6% 6.6% 8.6 7.2% 5.4% 1.3% 4.2% 3.7% 6.5% 3.1%

 

How do you think white people in the United States feel about minorities?

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Only a few white people dislike minorities 25.3% 41.0% 29.6% 30.9% 29.3% 38.6 40.7% 31.0% 17.1% 29.9% 30.3% 30.3% 28.9%
Many white people dislike minorities 56.3% 44.9% 53.7% 53.7% 52.5% 44.3 45.4% 51.2% 63.2% 53.6% 51.4% 54.1% 49.2%
Almost all white people dislike minorities 12.5% 7.1% 11.1% 8.5% 12.2% 8.6 5.7% 11.3% 16.4% 12.4% 11.9% 7.3% 14.1%
No Opinion 5.9% 7.1% 5.6% 6.8% 6.1% 8.6       4.1% 6.4% 8.3% 7.8%

 

How do you think minorities in the United States feel about white people?

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Only a few minorities dislike whites 26.9% 27.6% 18.5% 25.9% 24.4% 24.3 29.5% 22.0% 26.7% 23.2% 31.2% 22.2% 25.6%
Many minorities dislike whites 60.1% 53.2% 63.0% 61.3% 55.6% 54.3 52.8% 61.9% 61.3% 68.4% 54.1% 61.1% 54.3%
Almost all minorities dislike whites 6.6% 9.6% 7.4% 4.3% 13.3% 15.7 7.3% 7.7% 8.0% 5.3% 6.4% 8.3% 10.9%
No Opinion 6.3% 9.6% 11.1% 8.5% 6.7% 5.7 10.4% 8.3% 4.0% 3.2% 8.3% 8.3% 9.3%

 

Who do you think is more responsible for poor status of race relations in America? 

 
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Whites mostly responsible 46.0% 30.1% 22.2% 36.9% 40.9% 30.0 25.3% 38.1% 56.7% 55.8% 41.7% 29.4% 30.8%
Minorities mostly responsible 5.3% 7.7% 5.6% 3.3% 9.4% 14.3 5.2% 7.1% 6.0% 1.1% 7.4% 8.3% 7.7%
Both 41.4% 52.6% 61.1% 51.0% 42.5% 44.3 59.8% 46.4% 30.7% 36.8% 42.6% 51.4% 53.1%
Neither 4.0% 5.8% 5.6% 4.6% 5.0% 8.6 3.6% 6.0% 4.7% 2.1% 5.6% 4.6% 6.2%
No Opinion 3.3% 3.8% 5.6% 4.2% 2.2% 2.9 6.2% 2.4% 2.0% 4.2% 2.8% 6.4% 2.3%

 

On the whole, do you think most white people want to see minorities get a better break, or do they want to keep minorities down or don't you think they care either way?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Minorities to Get a Better Break 11.9% 33.3% 23.1% 19.3% 17.8% 29.0 25.5% 17.4% 14.6% 16.8% 17.6% 22.7% 12.6%
To Keep Minorities Down 46.0% 21.8% 19.2% 34.1% 40.0% 18.8 24.0% 37.7% 49.0% 40.0% 38.0% 31.8% 40.9%
Don't Care either way 35.4% 35.3% 44.2% 38.4% 36.1% 44.9 38.5% 37.7% 31.8% 37.9% 34.3% 37.3% 39.4%

 

Over the last 10 years, how has the quality of life changed for minorities?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
Has gotten better 46.2% 55.1% 59.6% 48.8% 51.4% 60.0 61.8% 45.8% 40.7% 38.3% 50.0% 57.8% 43.4%
Has gotten worst 21.6% 7.1% 7.7% 13.9% 19.3% 7.1 6.3% 13.1% 30.7% 28.7% 10.2% 12.8% 20.2%
Has stayed about the same 30.6% 30.1% 30.8% 33.3% 26.5% 27.1 27.2% 37.5% 26.7% 30.9% 33.3% 25.7% 34.1%
No opinion 1.7% 7.7% 1.9% 4.0% 2.8% 5.7 4.7% 3.6% 2.0% 2.1% 6.5% 3.7% 2.3%

 

 
What do you think about racial minorities chances for good employment?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
As good a chance as whites 11.6% 25.0% 28.3% 18.0% 12.1% 21.4 25.0% 16.6% 8.6% 9.5% 19.3% 19.3% 10.0%
A better chance than whites 5.6% 11.5% 13.2% 5.2% 13.7% 17.1 10.9% 10.1% 2.6% 4.2% 3.7% 8.3% 16.2%
Not as good a chance as whites 80.2% 57.7% 54.7% 73.4% 70.3% 55.7 57.8% 71.6% 86.1% 83.2% 72.5% 69.7% 70.8%

 

What do you think of racial minorities chances of getting a good education?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
As good a chance as whites 24.4% 37.2% 45.3% 34.6% 22.7% 30.0 43.7% 27.2% 17.2% 21.5% 32.1% 33.6% 25.6%
A better chance than whites 2.7% 8.3% 13.2% 4.0% 7.7% 11.4 6.8% 6.5% 2.8% 1.1% 3.8% 5.5% 8.5%
Not as good a chance as whites 68.1% 51.9% 35.8% 56.1% 67.4% 55.7 43.7% 64.5% 75.2% 75.3% 57.5% 56.4% 62.8%
No Opinion 4.7% 2.6% 5.7% 5.3% 2.2% 2.9 5.8% 1.8% 4.8% 2.2% 6.6% 4.5% 3.1%

 

What do you think of minorities chances of being stopped by a police officer?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
As good a chance as whites 8.7% 9.7% 25.0% 10.5% 8.9% 8.7 16.8% 6.6% 7.4% 4.2% 13.0% 12.8% 7.0%
A better chance than whites 84.6% 81.9% 67.3% 81.9% 84.4% 82.6 74.3% 88.0% 85.1% 82.1% 82.4% 79.8% 88.3%
Not as good a chance as whites 4.7% 4.5%   3.9% 3.9% 5.8 4.2% 2.4% 6.1% 7.4%   3.7% 4.7%
No Opinion 2.0% 3.9% 7.7% 3.6% 2.8% 2.9 4.7% 3.0% 1.4% 6.3% 4.6% 3.7%  

 

What do you think of minorities chances of being imprisoned?
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
As good a chance as whites 9.0% 23.2% 35.8% 18.5% 10.9% 14.3 28.1% 11.9% 5.4% 7.4% 12.0% 19.3% 15.4%
A better chance than whites 86.0% 65.2% 56.6% 74.5% 81.4% 71.4 59.9% 82.1% 91.8% 84.0% 82.4% 73.4% 78.5%
Not as good a chance as whites 1.7% 4.5% 1.9% 1.3% 4.4% 8.6 4.7% 1.8% .7% 4.3%   3.7% 1.5%
No Opinion 3.3% 7.1% 5.7% 5.6% 3.3% 5.7 7.3% 4.2% 2.0% 4.3% 5.6% 3.7% 4.6%

 

As you may have heard, a number of black churches have been destroyed by fire in the United States over the last few years. What do you think these incidents reflect:
  People of Color Whites Other Female Male White Male 19 & Under 20 - 39 40 & older East South Midwest West
American Society is basically racist 58.9% 22.6% 43.4% 47.2% 43.2% 23.2 40.6% 40.8% 59.7% 51.6% 32.4% 57.3% 40.8%
Isolated incidents 12.6% 29.0% 17.0% 15.1% 22.4% 31.9 17.2% 20.1% 16.8% 14.7% 24.1% 19.1% 16.9%
Other opinion 21.9% 43.2% 34.0% 30.5% 30.1% 37.7 34.9% 33.7% 18.1% 30.5% 34.3% 18.2% 34.6%
Neither 6.6% 5.2% 5.7% 7.2% 4.4% 7.2 7.3% 5.3% 5.4% 3.2% 9.3% 5.5% 7.7%

Demographics
 

Frequency

Valid Percent

African or African Descendants

158

31.9

Asian or Asian Descendants

34

6.9

European or European Descendants

157

31.7

Hispanic/Latino(a) Descendants

48

9.7

Indigenous Persons

20

4.0

MultiRacial

24

4.8

Other

55

11.1

Total

496

100.0
 

Frequency

Valid Percent

People of Color

319

60.1

Whites 

157

29.6

Other

55

10.4

Total

531

100.0
 
 

Frequency

Valid Percent

Female

309

62.7

Male

184

37.3

Total

493

100.0
 
 

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent

Less than 15 years old

33

6.6

15 - 19 years old

162

32.6

20 - 29 years old

99

19.9

30 - 39 years old

72

14.5

40 - 49 years old

60

12.1

50 years or older

71

14.3

Total

497

100.

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent

19 & Under

195

36.7

20 - 39

171

32.2

40 & older

165

31.1

Total

531

100.0
 

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent

East

97

21.7

South

109

24.3

Midwest

111

24.8

West

131

29.2

Total

448

100.0

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent
 

84

15.8

Alabama

5

.9

Alaska

3

.6

Arizona

13

2.4

Arkansas

1

.2

California

36

6.8

Colorado

8

1.5

Connecticut

7

1.3

Delaware

4

.8

District of Columbia

1

.2

Florida

22

4.2

Georgia

16

3.0

Hawaii

1

.2

Idaho

5

.9

Illinois

17

3.2

Indiana

14

2.6

Iowa

6

1.1

Kansas

8

1.5

Kentucky

5

.9

Louisiana

2

.4

Maine

2

.4

Maryland

10

1.9

Massachusetts

10

1.9

Michigan

19

3.6

Minnesota

7

1.3

Mississippi

1

.2

Missouri

6

1.1

Montana

1

.2

Nebraska

4

.8

Nevada

7

1.3

New Jersey

7

1.3

New Mexico

3

.6

New York

40

7.5

North Carolina

6

1.1

North Dakota

3

.6

Ohio

25

4.7

Oklahoma

4

.8

Oregon

9

1.7

Pennsylvania

22

4.1

Rhode Island

3

.6

South Carolina

5

.9

South Dakota

1

.2

Tennessee

12

2.3

Texas

17

3.2

Utah

8

1.5

Vermont

3

.6

Virginia

10

1.9

Washington

18

3.4

West Virginia

2

.4

Wisconsin

7

1.3

Wyoming

1

.2

Total

531

100.
 

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent

United States

432

81.4

International

99

18.6

Total

531

100.0

 

 

Frequency

Valid Percent

United States

432

85.9

Algeria

1

.2

Angola

1

.2

Antarctica

1

.2

Canada

21

4.2

Colombia

1

.2

England

10

2.0

Germany

1

.2

Malawi

1

.2

Mexico

1

.2

Nicaragua

1

.2

Philipines

2

.4

United States Minor Outlying Islands

28

5.6

Western Sahara

1

.2

Yemen

1

.2

Total

503

100.0