Despite more than 50 years passing since the Civil Rights movement, racism remains a contentious issue in America. A recent poll highlights that Republicans, particularly Trump supporters, perceive racism directed at whites as a more significant problem today than racism directed at black individuals.
Considering the increased focus on ESG scores and corporate America’s widespread diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training, this sentiment among conservatives isn’t surprising. Critics of these policies have often been labeled as “White Supremacists” and “domestic terrorists” under President Biden’s administration, fostering a divisive message that encourages hatred, discrimination, and violence against white people.
According to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll, 62% of 2020 Trump voters see racism against black Americans as a problem today, while a more significant percentage (73%) believe racism against white Americans is a problem. The survey, conducted from July 13-17, involved 1,638 U.S. adults and subtly influenced feelings of inequality by capitalizing “Blacks” but using a small “w” for white Americans.
The results demonstrate a clear political divide, with Trump voters and self-identified Republicans being the only demographic groups where racism against white Americans is considered a more significant problem than racism against black Americans.
While a majority of white Americans (51%) acknowledge racism as a problem against people who look like them, a more significant proportion (72%) recognizes racism as a problem against black Americans. The poll sheds light on the contentious topic of reparations for Black Americans, revealing that public support for this initiative remains low. Only 24% of respondents believe Black Americans should receive restitution or reparations from the government due to inequities caused by racism and slavery, while 56% oppose the idea.
The disparity between Trump and Biden supporters becomes more apparent in their views on systemic racism. Trump voters, by a significant margin (61%), believe there is no problem with systemic racism in America and disagree with the notion that racism is embedded in legal systems and policies. These issues are the focal points of reparations initiatives, which Trump voters fear may exacerbate racial divisions and ignore inequities faced by other Americans due to racism.
In conclusion, Trump voters’ perceptions of racism and reparations differ significantly from those of Biden supporters. While both groups acknowledge historical racism against black Americans, Trump voters are more inclined to believe that racism against white Americans is a more significant problem today and are more skeptical about the need for reparations.