Race Relations

[classicman]

Poll Results

For most African-Americans, the election of Barack Obama as president was a dream come true that they didn't think they would see in their lifetime, a national poll released Tuesday suggests.

Eighty percent of African-Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey said that Obama's election was a dream come true, and 71 percent said they never thought a black candidate for president would get elected in their lifetime.

The poll reflects anecdotal evidence that surfaced across the country last week as soon as Obama's projected win was announced.

The poll also suggests a racial divide among people who thought a black candidate would be elected president in their lifetimes. Fifty-nine percent of white respondents said they thought a black president would be elected in their lifetime, but only 29 percent of black respondents agreed.

"A majority of blacks now believe that a solution to the country's racial problems will eventually be found," Holland said. "In every previous poll on this topic dating back to 1993, black respondents had always said that racial problems were a permanent part of the American landscape."

I found this very interesting. I know that racial bias exists, I think it always will, but I wonder how much of it is perceived and how much of it still exists.

The disparity of the views from whites to blacks was troublesome, but one area where the two agreed was on the question "do you think a solution will be worked out - over half of both groups thought a solution would be found. (57% white & 55% blacks)

I remain hopeful.