Poll On Racism Offers Disturbing Insight Into Election And Society

Shock of all shocks, another poll released this weekend (this one by AP-Yahoo News, in partnership with Stanford University) has shown that there are some people who are not going to vote for Sen. Barack Obama for President because he is black. While that is no surprise, racism is still alive and kicking in 2008, a look into the complete poll results displays just how serious the race issue within the context of the larger society.

At least 7% of those polled would be upset by a black family living next to where they lived, 10% would be upset by a black person being President of the United States and 25% of those polled are upset by black leaders asking for racial equality in the workplace. Of whites polled, 48% felt the word "violent" described black people moderately, very or extremely well, 57% shared those sentiments about the word "complaining", 38% felt that way about "lazy" and 40% thought "irresponsible" was a good descriptor.

It is amazing to me to think that so many people have no problem painting an entire race with the same broad brush. What does it say about our society when people are upset by any group, be it blacks, women, etc. asking for equality in the workplace? Aren't all men "created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" If that is the case, what exactly is the problem in asking for that statement to be held to task?

To those that think that Obama being elected means racism is dead and civil rights groups are suddenly going to hang "Out of Business" signs on the door of their headquarters, let these survey results be a wake up call. If you are a hiring manager and you hold the pre-conceived notion that blacks are lazy and irresponsible - will you be able to evaluate black candidates fairly? If you are a police officer, pulling over a black person, yet you hold the belief that blacks are "violent," could you possibly be trigger-happy? If you are an elected official, and you think that blacks are prone to "complaining," will you hear their concerns with an unbiased ear?

It's obvious America has a long way to go with respect to race relations. It's sad to think that there are people who will vote against a candidate that shares their policy beliefs but not their skin tone, but it's even sadder to think that so many are willing to hold an entire race in such a low light.

Comments

[gaypastor]

With all due respect, I can't believe we're focusing on the race issue again. Didn't we do this for months during the primaries (and certainly during the Rev. Wright fiasco!)? Why doesn't the national press embrace the fact that there are other forms of oppression in play during this election (ageism, sexism) and the American people want to be informed about these areas as well. Perhaps the Obama campaign is using some of that money of theirs to get the mainline press to keep things focused on race! Help strum up some "white guilt" votes! Who knows??

[uclafan]

We've been telling people for years...th­ey are now seeing what we see

[dosaybe]

I live in the T of Pennsylvania, where people migrated three generations ago from alabama and the south, before segregation was ended.

My friend who was raised here has a biracial adopted child, but she says she was afraid of African Americans until her husband was in the service and she met actual people who she grew fond of.

[dosaybe]

emergency powers allowed Hitler to take over smoothly within weeks, destroying any who opposed him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republic
http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/history/bl_weimar_republic.htm
In mid-1919 the new Weimar Republic born, so named because its constitution was drafted where the poets Goethe and Schiller had lived, a federal republic consisting of nineteen states. The republic's government was a mixed strong president and parliamentary system, with the president elected by popular direct ballot to a seven-year term and could be reelected. He appointed the chancellor and also appointed the cabinet ministers. However, the cabinet had to reflect the party composition of the (Parliament) and was also responsible to this body. Election to the Reichstag(­Parliament­) was by secret ballot and popular vote. Suffrage was universal. Thus, Germany had a truly democratic parliamentary system. However, the president could dismiss the cabinet, dissolve the Reichstag, and veto legislation. The legislative powers were further weakened by the provision for presidential recourse to popular referendum. Article 48, the so-called emergency clause, accorded the president the right to allow the cabinet to govern without the consent of parliament whenever it was deemed essential to maintaining public order."..T­he extreme left and right provided the republic's most vitriolic opponents. Its supporters the bulk of the left,and moderate right. However, at key times these supporters failed to behave responsibly because of political inexperience, narrow self-interest, or unrealistic party programs.

[nazcalito]

I thought the poll questionnaire was rather poor. The questionnaire first tells people that Obama is "black" rather than asking him what race he is. It then assumes that all "black people" are alike by asking people to make generalizations about "black" people. The questionnaire is also so long that by the time anyone gets to the questions about "black" people, they would be tired and annoyed and more likely to check negative boxes simply out of irritation.

[gaypastor]

Great points nazcalito! I seen you have some background in survey/que­stionnaire development!

[vew]

I grew up in the segregated South. I never went to school with Blacks until college in 1963. But my first boss was a Black man and he was the best boss I ever worked for in my entire working life. I taught in schools with high minority enrollments and though the families were poor they worked. Many of the parents worked 2 jobs to make ends meet. Yes they had food stamps and other welfare benefits, but the majority of them still tried to work. And these were Black, Hispanic and White families. The problem with the polls is that people answer based upon perceptions towards a group. But if you ask them to name a minority person they know through work, etc and then ask the same questions there usually is a different response. People will speak negatively about a racial group but positively about individuals they know. So as Obama supporters we need to ask them about the individual people they know and like and then relate Obama to those people. We don't need to dwell on racism which is alive and strong but on the narrative of Obama's story that shows him to be like the minorities they do respect. Some are so racist they will never vote for any minority, but many others can be moved to think differently.

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I think this was a very great analysis of the study. The best analysis I have heard to date.