"Suppose a black and white person of equal intelligence and skill apply for the same kind of job here in this area. Which one do you think would have a better chance of being hired, or do you think they would both have an equal chance?"
Black White Same Depends
1978 29% 29% 27% 9%
1983 20% 35% 29% 12%
"Suppose a black and a white were competing for the same job and both were equally qualified. Generally, do you think the black applicant will be more or less likely to be hired?"
More Less No diff.
1988 33% 47% 14%
"Suppose a black and a white were competing for the same job and both were equally qualified. Generally, do you think the black applicant will be more or less likely to be hired?"
More Less No diff.
1988 33% 47% 14%
"Suppose a black and a white were competing for the same job and both were equally qualified. Generally, do you think the black applicant will be more or less likely to be hired?"
More Less No diff.
1991 32% 50% 9%
"If a black person and a white person were competing for the same job, and both were equally qualified, who do you think would be more likely to be hired?"
Black White No opinion
1996 22% 46% 32%
"In the average US company when a black person and a white person compete for the same job and they both have the exact same qualifications--the only difference is their race--what do you think usually happens? Do you think the black person gets hired, or do you think the white person gets hired?"
Black White Same Depends
1997 19% 47% 5% 16%
After 1997, remarkably, there were no more questions. Despite the changes in question wording, there seems to be a clear trend. In 1978, 29% said that the black applicant had a better chance and 29% said the white applicant had a better chance. After that, opinion shifted steadily towards thinking the white applicant had a better chance. These figures include both blacks and whites, but given the relative numbers in the population and the likely distribution of black opinions, almost all of the change must have been due to change of opinions among whites.
It's possible that opinions have swung in the other direction since 1997, but I don't see any evidence of that. So whites may not recognize racial discrimination to the extent that Nicholas Kristof would like, but they are becoming more aware of it. Paul Krugman has often noted (correctly, I think) that when talking about economics, conservatives seem to think that it's still the 1970s. There seems to be a parallel among liberals when talking about white views of race: they don't realize that quite a bit has changed.
[data from iPOLL, Roper Center for Public Opinion Research]
After 1997, remarkably, there were no more questions. Despite the changes in question wording, there seems to be a clear trend. In 1978, 29% said that the black applicant had a better chance and 29% said the white applicant had a better chance. After that, opinion shifted steadily towards thinking the white applicant had a better chance. These figures include both blacks and whites, but given the relative numbers in the population and the likely distribution of black opinions, almost all of the change must have been due to change of opinions among whites.
It's possible that opinions have swung in the other direction since 1997, but I don't see any evidence of that. So whites may not recognize racial discrimination to the extent that Nicholas Kristof would like, but they are becoming more aware of it. Paul Krugman has often noted (correctly, I think) that when talking about economics, conservatives seem to think that it's still the 1970s. There seems to be a parallel among liberals when talking about white views of race: they don't realize that quite a bit has changed.
[data from iPOLL, Roper Center for Public Opinion Research]
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