I'm wondering just how I feel about this . . .

[bigtree]

AP Poll: Most Americans View Blacks Negatively

. . . no link. I'll just start with this amazing headline.

I guess I've NEVER felt that this would be true. Never, in my lifetime; even through the killing of MLK in my youth . . . never. Should I accept this as fact now? Then what?

This isn't how I've organized my thinking about my country. Is it time to re-evaluate my relationship with America?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I see that kind of attitude now and then from certain people.

It makes me sad. Mostly for the person whose attitude should be a thing of the past.

[bigtree]

3. that's always been there; someone or the other acting up

it's this notion that 'most' Americans view blacks negatively. I wonder if many folks have always felt this to be the case? I've always been fortunate to see the glass as half-full.

[GreenEyedLefty]

2. I take polls and studies with a grain of salt.

Especially when the media present the results. The media are always biased, always looking for a salacious angle, and they sure as hell never want to publish anything positive or good.

I read the article and I'm interested in knowing who sponsored the poll, and the margin of error. Curiously, those facts were not shared.

Again... grain of salt.

[bigtree]

4. sure, sure. I agree about studies and polls

I find it perplexing that the nation would progress to elect its first black president -- yet, regress in our personal perceptions of one another. i'd certainly like to say that this isn't the case.

[GreenEyedLefty]

5. Me too...

But assuming the poll is true and people have regressed in their perceptions of people of color, would the Obama presidency really be to blame?

I wonder if the polling would be more accurate if the same people polled 4 years ago, were polled now..

[Horse with no Name]

6. We really are two countries

this election may be the powder keg that ignites that.

[bigtree]

7. just two? I've seen ethnic differences rivaling racial ones between black and white

In some ways, political action and progress could serve to dampen some of these manufactured divisions over immigration, affirmative action, and over other issues which some folks use to define their view of their American counterparts.

[maggiesfarmer]

8. try the IAT test and make sure you're not one of them

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/

I first heard of this test reading Blink by Gladwell (yes, I know the author is not highly credited on this website). I'm a white make and consider myself open minded, if not free of bias. I was surprised that the test concludes I possess a measurable feeling of preference towards "European Americans" over "African Americans".

I am not surprised that a majority of Americans feel this way. I do believe that our culture and society are doing an good job of continuing to raise awareness of racial issues (compared with countries that never had a civil rights movement) -- we can thank Dr. King for that.

[bigtree]

11. interesting.

a lot of manipulation there. Very leading 'test.'

[antigone382]

19. The test is designed to measure implicit racism.

It has also been used to measure implicit sexism and other "isms." It is really kind of brilliant in its design, even if it delivers results that are distressing to hear. Most of us have internalized sexist and racist associations.

[TBF]

14. I took that test also - I had them pretty clumped together

with Asian Americans first, then Latino, Whites and Blacks. I am a white female who lives in a diverse part of a large city now, but grew up with few minorities (we did have Asian doctors who probably were willing to work in a poor rural area to have loans forgiven or something and latinos who worked in the fields - those boys were some of my first dates as a teen). I didn't have any friends (or even know anyone) who was African American until college.

My kids have friends of various nationalities and are always bringing them home for play dates. I'm hoping that they will grow up without those "other" feelings ... it appears to stick with you when you grow up without exposure. That may be a big part of what we're seeing since minorities are largely living in cities in this country while those rural "white" areas are consistently "red" states.

[Brickbat]

9. They are including the results from the implicit racism test, and I'm sure I would "score" on that.

I know I have feelings, thoughts and actions that are irrational reactions to a person's race. I think many people do.

[bigtree]

10. many people do

I'd agree. That would make many of these perceptions of one another, mostly, products of the various efforts to define those impressions -- in politics; in the media; and elsewhere.

What would be a better and more relevant measure of our relationships with one another, then?

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. America's progress on this issue, viewed from the beginning to now, has been excruciatingly slow

From that same perspective however it has also been steady and unstoppable. It's a classic glass half empty, glass half full situation. The trend line fluctuates over years some times, but not over decades. We have reasons as a nation to feel both proud and ashamed.

[TBF]

13. One line of my family has been here since the Puritan days -

and I'm not sure I'd like that ancestor very much.

Some days I want to stay and fight, some days I want to fly to Sweden and see what civilization looks like.

It's very disheartening for me as well.

[bigtree]

16. As leader of a wealthy group of Puritans who unsuccessfully tried to reform the Church of England

John Winthrop separated from England and formed a self-governing society at Massachusetts bay that was to serve as an example to the world. But despite their own struggle to worship as they pleased, Puritans proved themselves so intolerant of other religions that they isolated themselves into obscurity.

I have felt that much of African-American insecurity with this country stems from an insistence that our community must necessarily be at odds with America -- our successes and progress rendered impotent-- because of the tragic beginnings. But, there is an undeniable heritage to strengthen and inspire our children.

W.E.B Du Bois expressed it best:

"Your country? How came it yours? Before the Pilgrims landed we were here. Here we have brought our three gifts and mingled them with yours: a gift of story and song—soft, stirring melody in an ill-harmonized and unmelodious land; the gift of sweat and brawn to beat back the wilderness, conquer the soil, and lay the foundations of this vast economic empire two hundred years earlier than your weak hands could have done it; the third, a gift of the Spirit. Around us the history of the land has centred for thrice a hundred years; out of the nation’s heart we have called all that was best to throttle and subdue all that was worst; fire and blood, prayer and sacrifice, have billowed over this people, and they have found peace only in the altars of the God of Right. Nor has our gift of the Spirit been merely passive. Actively we have woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation,—we fought their battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood with theirs, and generation after generation have pleaded with a headstrong, careless people to despise not Justice, Mercy, and Truth, lest the nation be smitten with a curse. Our song, our toil, our cheer, and warning have been given to this nation in blood-brotherhood. Are not these gifts worth the giving? Is not this work and striving? Would America have been America without her Negro people?"

We are all challenged to help shape this country according to our own ideals. We're challenged to recognize each others' contributions which make up the fabric of our nation. That's the essence of our citizenship.

[TBF]

18. That's a great quote - very powerful. nt

[TreasonousBastard]

15. I'm not at all surprised...

and I would appreciate some reliable hard science to convince me that we're not hardwired to mistrust "the other".

Quite frankly, I don't think I've ever met anyone who is truly unbiased. Eventually, something will come out that shows some bias, however well hidden.

What I don't know is if the attitude is learned or hardwired. From childhood we are taught and receive messages about bias, but do the messages we get reinforce or refute whatever it is we are born with? Or are we born with a completely blank slate and learn it all?

But whatever the causes, we have too long a history of slavery and then legally enforced racism that only ended in my lifetime. How many generations will it take for attitudes to catch up with the law?

[bigtree]

17. born in 1960

. . . and I adopted TONS of bias as a child; from the television; from my family and peers. It's taken a lifetime of experiences to shed them. Like it or not. they were a part of me at one time or the other. Hard to say where it all comes out in our everyday behavior and relationships. I really do believe my children's generation has a much different view of all of this. There's both hope and challenge in that.

[Sunnyskies801]

20. It's sad but....What part do we as black people play in this?

I'm black so please don't jump on me. I think that we as black people play a role in this matter. We jump down Dr Bill Cosbys throat when he tells mothers and fathers to take responsibilty. We go on tv looking a hot ass mess. We support shows like Apprentice run by a nasty POS Trump in which we basically help make him richer by acting a fool (NeNe etc). How about the fact that we have not boycotted Ann Coulter Sarah Palin, Rush, or Fox News.

I believe if we stand up and demand to be shown in better light than people of other races will have better opinions of us.

[bigtree]

22. lol, 'We go on tv looking a hot ass mess.'

I'd really like to think that 'we;d' be better off if we were just allowed to expect no more and more less than anyone else would expect in America. We have a perfect right to be a 'hot ass mess.'

Still, I do take your point, Sunnyskies, about the challenges of our own individual and societal responsibility and our own ability to shape and mold others' perceptions of ourselves.

I would think that effort would be advantaged by more interactions and contact between races; at all levels of work, education, government, etc., which can serve to bridge many of the misconceptions and misunderstanding which underlies much of the racism and bigotry which isn't part of some deliberate, opportunistic campaign.

[treestar]

21. Check the basis for the poll and the questions asked

Who knows but that it's a push poll - notice how conveniently it comes out before the election.

[bigtree]

23. true, true