Survey Says!

In one of the latest revelations (and I use the term loosely), to hit the streets, a recent USA Today/Gallup Survey found that more blacks than whites or Hispanics believe racism in America is widespread against blacks. Of course this finding is not surprising. The reality is it would have been shocking if that specific survey detail were found to be any different.

But there is more. A majority of those surveyed, including whites, and Hispanics, indicated they believed racism against blacks is widespread. Now that is a significant finding. It should be noted that the percentage of whites who admitted to believing racism against blacks is widespread fell within the margin of error for statistical sampling. The number was only 51%, yet it was a majority. As an aside, in this Presidential Election year, it is worth noting that we have elected four Presidents who tallied less than 51% (or 50% for that matter) of the popular vote. Because I know some of you are stricken with curiosity, I will name them…later.

Another revelation gleaned from the USA Today/Gallup survey, this one more stout, is that a majority of those surveyed, including whites, rejected the notion that blacks discriminating against whites is widespread. Moreover, none of the findings on this question were in danger of statistical invalidity. In short, for all the ballyhooed media amplified claims of reverse discrimination, a majority of Americans, including a majority of whites simply know better. That is not only significant, it is heartening! We are moving in the right direction.

Before moving away from this subtopic, it should be added, even though racism by blacks against whites was not thought to be widespread by a majority of respondents, over 40% thought it was widespread, including 42% of whites, and 36% of blacks and Hispanics. Finding that nearly 4 out of 10 blacks believe blacks’ discriminating against whites is the order of the day is a daunting piece of statistical analysis. Such damning evidence should prompt a close look at the “Man in the Mirror.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8n0HsInb6M&NR=1). If that is the case, we clearly stand in need of “Change We Can Believe In!”

When looked at through a partisan lens, a majority of Independents and Democrats surveyed believed whites discriminating against blacks is widespread. Only 39% of Republicans thought so. Alternately, a majority of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats rejected the idea that black discrimination against whites is widespread.

The dearth of black Republicans may have influenced the finding that so few Republicans, compared to Democrats and Independents thought whites discriminate widely against blacks. However, if finding that nearly 4 out of 10 blacks believe blacks’ discriminating against whites is widespread, is a significant discovery, I suppose finding that nearly 4 out of 10 Republicans believe whites discriminate against blacks is widespread, should also be considered a significant discovery.

Finally, just in case you thought I forgot…or even if you wish I had…I remembered to point out the four presidents who were elected to office without winning the popular vote. They were:

1). 1824: John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson (I mentioned this one in the July 4th post.). Neither won the popular vote; the House of Representatives made the call.

2). 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes over Samuel J. Tilden

3). 1888: Grover Cleveland over Benjamin Harrison

4). 2000: George W. Bush over Al Gore

That’s it for this week; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.


http://www.gallup.com/poll/109258/Majority-Americans-Say-Racism-Against-Blacks-Widespread.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-13-racepoll_N.htm

http://www.pollingreport.com/race.htm

http://philippinecommentary.blogspot.com/2008/06/surprise-in-usa-todaygallup-poll-obama.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/visibleman/2008/08/the_new_invisible_man.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/28/two-gallup-polls-one-day_n_115473.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-13-racepoll_n.htm

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/14/poll-heightened-expectations-obama-would-improve-race-relations/

http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_729_494.aspx