Many Americans think that racism against Black and Hispanic individuals is not as widespread as it once seemed.
According to research from the NORC Civil Service Research Center, fewer U.S. adults believe that significant discrimination against Black Americans is prevalent. This trend has been observed since the survey began in April 2021.
About 40% of people think that Black and Hispanic individuals face “considerable” discrimination. In contrast, only 30% express the same concern for Asian Americans, while just 10% acknowledge it for white individuals.
Earlier polls conducted by the Associated Press and NORC, following George Floyd’s death, revealed that 61% of adults recognized significant discrimination against Black Americans.
Overall, polls indicate that while many Americans view discrimination as a continuing problem, they’re skeptical about the effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to address it.
“Many people feel that DEI programs don’t really create change. Around 30% suspect that these initiatives could actually worsen discrimination for various racial and ethnic groups, including white individuals. Some projects seem to help reduce discrimination for women and Hispanic and Asian groups, but about 40% of respondents feel the same doesn’t apply to Black people,” the report states.
Claudine Brider, a 48-year-old Black woman from California, noted, “The concept of DEI has made things trickier in the workplace for Black individuals and women.”
“It’s like when you see Black girls in engineering classes. They often feel like they’re judged as just fitting a quota,” Brider said. “People deny the merit of their presence by saying they’re only there to meet diversity targets.”
