Shifting Perceptions: Americans’ Views on Racial Discrimination

A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has revealed a significant shift in Americans’ perceptions of racial discrimination in the United States. According to the poll, less than half of Americans believe that racial minorities face substantial discrimination, marking a reversal of the previous trend. Only 40% of people surveyed believe that Black and Hispanic people face “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of discrimination, while 30% feel the same way about Asian people. In contrast, just 10% believe that white people are discriminated against.

This shift in perception comes as US President Donald Trump continues to attack initiatives that promote diversity at universities and the workplace, and pressures institutions not aligned with his political agenda. Trump’s administration has wielded a wide definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to exert pressure on institutions and organizations that he sees as hostile to his agenda. The president has threatened to withhold federal disaster aid from states that do not align with his efforts to roll back anti-discrimination measures and open probes into companies with DEI policies, which he has framed as racist against white people.

The poll also found that people in the US have become more skeptical about corporate efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Between 33% and 41% of those surveyed said that DEI made no difference at all, and a quarter said it was likely to increase discrimination against minorities.

Claudine Brider, a 48-year-old Black Democrat in Compton, California, expressed her concerns about the impact of DEI initiatives on Black people. “Anytime they’re in a space that they’re not expected to be, like seeing a Black girl in an engineering course … they are seen as only getting there because of those factors,” she said. “It’s all negated by someone saying, ‘You’re only here to meet a quota.'”

The poll’s findings also highlighted the differing views on discrimination among various racial groups. About 74% of Black people surveyed said their communities continue to face substantial discrimination, while just 39% of white respondents said that Black people face serious discrimination. A majority of those polled also believe that undocumented immigrants face discrimination, as the Trump administration pursues a program of mass deportations that have caused fear in immigrant communities across the country.

In addition to the perceptions of racial and ethnic groups facing discrimination, the poll found that more than half of the public believes Muslims face substantial discrimination, and about one-third said the same for Jewish people. These findings reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of discrimination in the US, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to promote understanding, equity, and inclusion.