Politics over progress? The racial divides between fact and fiction
Bottom Line: Within the past year black Americans have achieved record low unemployment rates while attaining record income in the process. As I’ve documented there’s still progress that needs to be made, as black Americans still have the highest unemployment rates and lowest average earnings of any ethnicity in the country – the fact still remains. Black Americans are generally faring better today than at any point prior in American history. Now enter the politics and false perceptions.
Gallup recently wrapped up research timed with MLK Day to get a status update on American perceptions of black opportunity today compared to points previous in American history. Gallup has studied this since 1963.
On the question as to if blacks have equal opportunities for jobs and housing – 61% and 67% of Americans say yes. But here’s the thing. That’s the lowest percentage since the 1970’s. American perception is at multi-decade lows on the equality question while reality is at record highs on both. What’s driving this? Yes, politics.
While 89% of Republicans and 64% of Independents believe there’s equal opportunity for jobs, just 37% of Democrats now say that there is. That’s the lowest read since the 1960’s during the civil rights era. In other words, those who identify with Democrats are buying into the party line about racial inequality at the very time when there’s never been more of it in this country. As you’ll hear me say there are two sides to stories but one side to facts.
It’s unfortunate that politics rather than reality are now coloring the opinions of so many people. That’s the exact opposite of progress.