3 in 10 Americans Admit to Race Bias

[jon1856]

3 in 10 Americans Admit to Race Bias

Survey Shows Age, Too, May Affect Election Views


By Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, June 22, 2008; Page A01

As Sen. Barack Obama opens his campaign as the first African American on a major party presidential ticket, nearly half of all Americans say race relations in the country are in bad shape and three in 10 acknowledge feelings of racial prejudice, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Lingering racial bias affects the public's assessments of the Democrat from Illinois, but offsetting advantages and Sen. John McCain's age could be bigger factors in determining the next occupant of the White House.
Overall, 51 percent call the current state of race relations "excellent" or "good," about the same as said so five years ago. That is a relative thaw from more negative ratings in the 1990s, but the gap between whites and blacks on the issue is now the widest it has been in polls dating to early 1992. ........
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062101825.html

[DeltAlum]

Should these stats surprise anyone?

Race relations have come a very long way in my lifetime, but still have a long way to go.

Old habits, feelings and beliefs die hard. It may take the death of a few more generations on both sides.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Should these stats surprise anyone?

Race relations have come a very long way in my lifetime, but still have a long way to go.

Old habits, feelings and beliefs die hard. It may take the death of a few more generations on both sides.

DA-I agree with you.
There were a few more stats in story that I found of interest:
"At the same time, there is an overwhelming public openness to the idea of electing an African American to the presidency. In a Post-ABC News poll last month, nearly nine in 10 whites said they would be comfortable with a black president. While fewer whites, about two-thirds, said they would be "entirely comfortable" with it, that was more than double the percentage of all adults who said they would be so at ease with someone entering office for the first time at age 72, which McCain (R-Ariz.) would do should he prevail in November. ".....a few more as well later on in story.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Since I just saw Avenue Q last weekend, this made me want to sing...

"Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race."

[Thetagirl218]

I actually stats were pretty low considering this is the first time we have ever had a national candidate who is of a different color skin other than white!

[KSig RC]

NEWS FLASH: 70% OF AMERICANS LIE.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

NEWS FLASH: 70% OF AMERICANS LIE.

So are you, or this comment, in the 70% or 30%

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Should these stats surprise anyone?

Only in that the number seems low.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Should these stats surprise anyone?

****

Conducting this type of research is important because it allows our "common sense understandings of the world" to be supported or refuted. It's great to remind people that things don't go away just because people claim not to be thinking about race or because there's a black candidate for POTUS.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by jon1856

DA-I agree with you.
There were a few more stats in story that I found of interest:
"At the same time, there is an overwhelming public openness to the idea of electing an African American to the presidency. In a Post-ABC News poll last month, nearly nine in 10 whites said they would be comfortable with a black president. While fewer whites, about two-thirds, said they would be "entirely comfortable" with it, that was more than double the percentage of all adults who said they would be so at ease with someone entering office for the first time at age 72, which McCain (R-Ariz.) would do should he prevail in November. ".....a few more as well later on in story.

LOL.

This just means that these whites view Obama as "an exception," which is also why the issue of biracialism is being discussed more. It's an attempt to highlight the "anything but black" in him. But if he becomes POTUS and he skrews something up, he'll go back to being a typical NEGRO and many will say "I knew a black person couldn't be trusted in the presidency."

The fact that we're still discussing the openness to a black president is the real point. Being a racial and ethnic minority is still viewed as a pathology to many as it uneasily deviates from the norm. Similar to how people discuss having a female president, a homosexual president, a blind president, an old president, and so forth.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

LOL.

This just means that these whites view Obama as "an exception," which is also why the issue of biracialism is being discussed more. It's an attempt to highlight the "anything but black" in him. But if he becomes POTUS and he skrews something up, he'll go back to being a typical NEGRO and many will say "I knew a black person couldn't be trusted in the presidency."

The fact that we're still discussing the openness to a black president is the real point. Being a racial and ethnic minority is still viewed as a pathology to many as it uneasily deviates from the norm. Similar to how people discuss having a female president, a homosexual president, a blind president, an old president, and so forth.

In some ways you are very correct.
Since the US was "born", Blacks fought and died for her.
Yet after every war, their valor was forgotten and the old beliefs were brought back up.
Even TR "forgot" that the 9Th and 10Th "Buffalo Solders" supported his Rough Riders up the hill when he was running for POTUS.

Times change slowly. As do people. And thus a Country.
"We the People....."

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by jon1856

In some ways you are very correct.
Since the US was "born", Blacks fought and died for her.
Yet after every war, their valor was forgotten and the old beliefs were brought back up.
Even TR "forgot" that the 9Th and 10Th "Buffalo Solders" supported his Rough Riders up the hill when he was running for POTUS.

Times change slowly. As do people. And thus a Country.
"We the People....."

eh...ok....?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

LOL.

This just means that these whites view Obama as "an exception," which is also why the issue of biracialism is being discussed more. It's an attempt to highlight the "anything but black" in him. But if he becomes POTUS and he skrews something up, he'll go back to being a typical NEGRO and many will say "I knew a black person couldn't be trusted in the presidency."

The fact that we're still discussing the openness to a black president is the real point. Being a racial and ethnic minority is still viewed as a pathology to many as it uneasily deviates from the norm. Similar to how people discuss having a female president, a homosexual president, a blind president, an old president, and so forth.

so...what's gonna happen when a Hispanic Female who is opposed to abortion runs for POTUS.....?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....

[nate2512]

It the polls bear no references, making this nothing but a piece of political propaganda. It doesn't say who they asked, where they are from, there are just so many factors that could sway the poll, but the statistics of the poll are not listed, therefore this poll cannot truly be taken seriously.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by nate2512

It the polls bear no references, making this nothing but a piece of political propaganda. It doesn't say who they asked, where they are from, there are just so many factors that could sway the poll, but the statistics of the poll are not listed, therefore this poll cannot truly be taken seriously.

The only poll I will take seriously will be the one they do in November(called the general election)..between now and then people switch sides, change their minds, and manipulate numbers....