Black Americans skeptical meaningful changes will take place: Survey

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Aug 2022 11:59
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A recent poll shows that 65% of Black Americans say the increased national attention on racial inequality has not led to changes that improved their lives.

6:10 (63%) Black adults in the US believe that voting is an extremely or very effective strategy for moving Black people toward equality.

A new report from the Pew Research Center revealed Tuesday that two-thirds of Black Americans say that the recent increased focus on race and racial inequality in the US has not led to changes that are improving the lives of Black people.

The survey included interviews with more than 3,000 Black Americans nationwide conducted last fall.

According to the new poll, "65% of Black Americans say the increased national attention on racial inequality has not led to changes that improved their lives."

When asked the same question in 2020, 56% of Black Americans "expected changes that would make their lives better," Pew Research Center highlighted.

The survey poll showed that 82% of Black Americans said they consider racism a major problem for Black people in the US, while the majority indicated that racism and police brutality are "extremely big" problems for Black people in the country.

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About 8 in 10 Black Americans (79%) said they have personally experienced discrimination due to their race or ethnicity, including 15% who indicated that they regularly experience such discrimination, the survey revealed.

In the same context, about 7 in 10 (68%) believe that "discrimination is the main reason many Black people cannot get ahead."

According to the Pew Research Center survey, "About nine-in-ten Black adults say multiple aspects of the criminal justice system need some kind of change (minor, major or a complete overhaul) to ensure fair treatment, with nearly all saying so about policing (95%), the courts and judicial process (95%), and the prison system (94%)."

It is noteworthy that 77% of Black Americans think "descendants of people enslaved in the U.S. should be repaid in some way."

On the other hand, only 13% believe that equality for Black people in the US is extremely or very likely.

The survey showed that about six-in-ten (63%) Black adults in the US believe that voting is an extremely or very effective strategy for moving Black people toward equality.

It also pointed out that "Black Republicans and Republican leaners are more likely than Black Democrats and Democratic leaners to focus on the acts of individuals."

The Pew Research Center concluded that "overall, Black Americans are clear on what they think the problems are facing the country and how to remedy them. However, they are skeptical that meaningful changes will take place in their lifetime."