Story Highlights
- 9-point decrease in satisfaction with treatment of Black people since 2018
- 41% of White adults, 21% of Black adults satisfied
- Satisfaction with treatment of Asian people highest at 60%
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As protests and conversations about racial injustice in U.S. society continue across the country, Americans' satisfaction with the treatment of Black people in the U.S. has hit its lowest point in Gallup's trend dating back to 2001. Currently, 35% of U.S. adults overall are satisfied with the treatment of Black people, marking a nine-point decline since the previous reading in 2018.
Views of the treatment of Black people are sharply polarized among racial groups with White Americans about twice as satisfied as Black Americans -- 41% vs. 21%. Yet, the overall decrease in satisfaction is driven by White Americans whose satisfaction has dropped by 10 points since 2018, while Black Americans' views have not changed appreciably.
Percentages of total U.S. adults, White Americans and Black Americans who are very or somewhat satisfied with the treatment of Black people in the U.S. since 2001. Currently, a record low 35% of U.S. adults are satisfied. This includes 41% of White adults and 21% of Black adults.
The latest data, from a June 8-July 24 poll which includes an oversample of Black Americans, found that U.S. adults overall are less satisfied with the treatment of Black people than other racial or ethnic groups tested in the survey, though "immigrants" get a similar satisfaction rating of 37%. Asian people are the only group whose treatment garners majority-level satisfaction (60%) from Americans overall. U.S. adults are about equally satisfied with the treatment of Arab people (44%) and Hispanic people (41%).
White adults are much more satisfied than Black adults with the treatment of each group, as racial gaps in satisfaction range from 13 points (on Arab people) to 22 points (on immigrants).
Bar graphs. Percentages of total U.S. adults, White adults and Black adults who are very or somewhat satisfied with the treatment of Asian, Arab, Hispanic, immigrant, and Black people in the U.S. Asian people are the only group whose treatment garners majority-level satisfaction (60%) from Americans overall. U.S. adults are about equally satisfied with the treatment of Arab people (44%) and Hispanic people (41%). White adults are much more satisfied than Black adults with the treatment of each group, as racial gaps in satisfaction range from 13 points (on Arab people) to 22 points (on immigrants).
White Americans and U.S. adults overall have become less satisfied with the treatment of both the Hispanic and Asian people since 2018, but Black Americans' views on these are essentially unchanged. Satisfaction with the treatment of immigrants, which dropped precipitously in 2018 among Black and White adults, is flat among all groups. Satisfaction with Arab people' treatment is also unchanged among all adults and White Americans, but it has increased among Black Americans.
| U.S. adults | White adults | Black adults | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2020 | 2018 | 2020 | 2018 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| % | % | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian people | 66 | 60 | 72 | 65 | 53 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arab people | 44 | 44 | 48 | 47 | 27 | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic people | 46 | 41 | 53 | 46 | 25 | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Immigrants | 37 | 37 | 43 | 43 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Black people | 44 | 35 | 51 | 41 | 18 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GALLUP, JUNE 8-JULY 24, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bottom Line
The death of George Floyd while in police custody in May sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice that have heightened Americans' understanding of, and empathy toward, Black adults in the U.S. Americans are now more likely than ever before to say they are dissatisfied with the treatment of Black people in society.
View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
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