A majority of Americans blame racial and ethnic discrimination as a significant cause of the nation’s political divide, according to a new Monmouth University poll.
Released June 28, the survey found that there is more public support for teaching about racial diversity and inclusion in schools than there is for addressing the topic of gender identity in the classroom.
According to the results, 61% of respondents described racial and ethnic discrimination as a “big problem,” while 52% believe race relations are the source of political tensions.
A ‘Big’ Problem
Demographically, 76% of Black, Hispanic, Asian and other people of color see discrimination as the main problem, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic whites. However, there is a significant difference in this view among whites, depending political affiliation – Democrats (85%) or Republicans (31%).
Among people of color, 69% say race is a primary or major reason for divisions, while 57% of whites agreed, with a large gap between Democrats (57%) and Republicans (51%).
The poll noted that the responses echo similar findings by surveys conducted in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minn.
Optimism for the Future
Still, 52% of Americans remain somewhat optimistic about the future of race relations, including 21% who are “very hopeful.”
However, people of color (68%) are less likely than whites (79%) to express hopefulness. According to the findings, there is little difference between the views of white Democrats (76%) and white Republicans (79%) on this question.
‘Uneasy’ Talks
In commenting on the results, Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said that while the nation points to “unresolved racial issues as being central” to the current political tensions, there appears to be “hope that it will get better.”
Although, he went on to say, “Many people, particularly white Americans, are uneasy talking about these issues.”
“Democrats of all races are basically on the same page when it comes to talking about the legacy of race in this country. They differ, however, when it comes to addressing gender identity, an issue where people of color tend to be more conservative in their views.”
Raising Awareness for Racial Diversity
A majority of people of color (58%) believe racial diversity and inclusion should be given more attention, compared with just 28% of white Americans. In fact, 49% of whites say racial diversity and inclusion should receive less attention, according to the poll.
When it comes to how racial inequity is address in schools, white Americans are divided on being more supportive of limiting how the issues are taught (50%) or broadening how they are approached (45%).
- When it comes to focusing more on racial diversity and inclusion, 54% of white Democrats agreed, with 85% supportive of expanding curriculum in schools;
- By contrast, 75% of white Republicans think the issues should receive less attention, with 82% support limiting how racial inequity is taught.
Less Support for Transgender, Sexual Identity Issues
The survey found less support for teaching about gender identity, in schools, however.
Sixty-three percent of the public want transgender and sexual identity issues to be less of a focus, compared to 23% who think it needs to be highlighted more. Just 35% are supportive of broadening how gender equity is taught in schools. The majority – 57% – want a limiting of how the issue is addressed in the classroom.
Overall, there are few differences in the responses by race, with 68% of whites and 57% of peoples of color saying the topics need less attention. The majority of both groups also support limits on how the issues are addressed in school curriculums, according to the poll.
White Republicans (93%) are much more likely than white Democrats (20%) to want to limit how gender identity is taught in schools. However, white Democrats (75%) are also significantly more likely than nonwhite Democrats (40%) to support broadening how gender is taught.
