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CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL For release: Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

6:30 pm EDT

The State of Race Relations in the U.S. July 14-19, 2015

Americans negative views of race relations in the U.S. persist. 57% say race relations are bad; blacks (68%) are more likely than whites (56%) to hold this view.

While most think there has been progress in getting rid of racial discrimination, many Americans say they personally know people who are prejudiced.

The poll suggests Barack Obamas presidency has not united whites and blacks. Just 15% of Americans say his presidency has brought these groups closer together, 47% think his presidency has made no difference, while 34% think it has pushed whites and blacks further apart.

African Americans are more critical than whites of key aspects of society, including the criminal justice system (77% say its biased against blacks, up from 61% in 2013), and at the ballot box 50% of blacks think black Americans are more likely than whites to encounter problems when voting.

Whether at home, at work or more generally, whites report far less interaction with blacks, than blacks have with whites. And a majority of both blacks and whites think most people are uncomfortable having a conversation about race with someone of another race.

Overall Views of Race Relations Current views of race relations, along with results from a CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted in April, represent the most pessimistic evaluations seen since the early 1990s. 57% of Americans now say that race relations in the U.S. are bad; just 37% say they are good. Positive opinions of race relations rose above 50% in the 2000s, and reached a high of 66% in April 2009, shortly after Barack Obama took office. But those positive assessments have not lasted: in mid-2014, after the conflicts between blacks and the police in Ferguson, MO., the percentage that said race relations are good dropped.

Race Relations in the U.S. Now 4/2015 2/2015 8/2014 1/2012 4/2009 7/2008 6/1997 5/1992 Good 37% 34% 52% 47% 62% 66% 53% 38% 25% Bad 57 61 38 44 30 22 37 52 68 Both blacks and whites view race relations negatively although more blacks (68%) than whites (56%) say they are bad.

Race Relations in the U.S. Whites Blacks

Good 37% 28% Bad 56 68

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The poll doesnt show much hope for improvement either; just 21% say race relations are getting better, while more -38%- think they are getting worse.

Race Relations in the U.S. Are Getting Total Whites Blacks Better 21% 21% 18% Worse 38 40 40 Staying the same 39 38 40 But there is a positive note in the poll: Americans are more apt to rate race relations in their own community positively. 77% say they are generally good, while just 20% say they are bad. Blacks (29%) are more likely than whites (17%) to say race relations are bad where they live, although two thirds say local race relations are good.

Race Relations in Your Community Total Whites Blacks

Good 77% 79% 67% Bad 20 17 29

And while 71% of Americans say there has been real progress getting rid of racial discrimination since the 1960s, that is the lowest that percentage has been since 2000.

Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination? Now 2/2015 6/2014 8/2013 7/2008 2/2000 6/1997 12/1996 5/1992

Yes 71% 76% 78% 73% 76% 71% 61% 56% 50% No 24 20 19 20 20 26 34 39 46 Again, the views of blacks and whites differ significantly.

Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination? Total Whites Blacks

Yes 71% 75% 56% No 24 21 41

Yet just one in ten Americans and one in five blacks say that improving race relations is the single most important issue for the future of the U.S. More than four in five Americans (and 74% of blacks) say it is important, but so are other issues.

Importance of Improving Race Relations to Future of U.S. Total Whites Blacks

Single most important issue 10% 6% 20% Important, but so are other issues 82 85 74 Not important 7 7 4

Prejudice and Discrimination Blacks and whites report very different personal experiences when it comes to discrimination. Just 31% of whites say they can think of a specific instance where they felt discriminated against because of their race, but this percentage rises to 72% among African Americans

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Ever Felt Discriminated Against Because of your Race? Total Whites Blacks Yes 42% 31% 72% No 57 69 27 Many Americans say they personally know people who are prejudiced. Nearly two-thirds know white people who are prejudiced against blacks, while fewer (about half) say they know blacks who are prejudiced against whites. Americans age 45 and over are more likely than those who are younger to know whites who are prejudiced against blacks (72%).

Personally Know Any White People who are Prejudiced against Blacks?

Total Whites Blacks Age 18-44 Age 45+ Yes 65% 68% 61% 58% 72% No 34 31 38 41 27

Personally Know Any Black People who are Prejudiced against Whites? Total Whites Blacks Age 18-44 Age 45+

Yes 49% 46% 58% 47% 51% No 49 53 40 52 47

Just over half of Americans overall and a similar percentage of whites think members of both races have an equal chance of getting ahead in todays society. But views among blacks are different; 60% think whites have a better chance to get ahead, up from 46% a year ago.

Who Has a Better Chance of Getting Ahead Today? ********** Now ******** ********** June 2014 ******** Total Whites Blacks Total Whites Blacks

White people 39% 35% 60% 30% 28% 46% Black people 5 7 1 5 5 4 Equal 51 55 35 61 63 46

58% of Americans support programs that help minorities get ahead; 35% oppose them. These figures have changed little over the years.

Programs That Help Minorities Get Ahead Now 3/2011 6/2009 7/2008 2/2000 12/1997 Favor 58% 51% 50% 51% 59% 55% Oppose 35 40 41 42 32 39

However, there are sizable differences in support for such programs between whites and blacks; blacks are far more apt to say they favor these programs.

Programs That Help Minorities Get Ahead Total Whites Blacks

Favor 58% 51% 83% Oppose 35 41 14

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Personal Experiences: How Integrated are Blacks and Whites? Whether at home, at work or more generally, the poll finds whites report far less interaction with blacks, than blacks have with whites. When white Americans are asked about the racial make-up of their community, a majority (79%) say few or none of the people who live in their immediate area are black, and nearly seven in 10 regularly come into contact with either few or no black people. Results are similar when asked about their workplace: 81% of whites currently working say few or none of their co-workers are black.

Whites: Interaction with Black Americans

(Among Whites) None/A few Half/Almost All How many people who live in your area are black? 79% 20 How many people you come into regular contact with are black? 68% 30 How many people you work with are black?* 81% 19

*among whites who are employed

But African Americans are more likely to say they encounter whites in all three areas measured in the poll. 48% report that half or almost all of the people in their immediate area are white, 64% say that at least half of the people they come into regular contact with are white, and 71% say half or more of their co-workers are white.

Blacks: Interaction with White Americans (Among blacks)

None/A few Half/Almost All How many people who live in your area are white? 51% 48 How many people you come into regular contact with are white? 35% 64 How many people you work with are white?* 28 % 71

*among blacks who are employed Still, majorities of both whites and blacks say they have at least one close friend of another race.

Are Any of your Close Friends White/Black? Yes No Among whites: Are any of your close friends black? 69% 30 Among blacks: Are any of your close friends white? 77% 23 Talking About Race The poll also suggests Americans face difficulties talking about race. Majorities of both blacks (71%) and whites (60%) think most Americans are uncomfortable discussing the issue of race with someone of another race. But they are much more positive about their own comfort level: most blacks and whites say they themselves are comfortable having a conversation about race with someone of another race.

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Comfort Having a Conversation About Race with Someone of Another Race

-------Among Whites -------- ------- Among Blacks -------- Yourself Most people Yourself Most people

Comfortable 75% 33% 73% 26% Not comfortable 21 60 25 71 Race Relations and the Obama Presidency While Americans were optimistic about the state of race relations at the start of Barack Obamas presidency, this poll suggests that the nations first black president has not been able to unite whites and blacks. Just 15% of Americans think Barack Obamas presidency has brought whites and blacks closer together. Instead, 47% think his presidency has made no difference, while 34% think his presidency has pushed blacks and whites further apart. Blacks (30%) are more likely than whites (11%) to think the Obama presidency has brought blacks and whites closer together, though about half of both groups think his presidency hasnt made much difference.

Has Barack Obamas Presidency? Total Whites Blacks Brought whites and blacks closer together 15% 11% 30% Pushed whites and blacks further apart 34 41 15 No effect 47 45 50 Americans give a mixed review to President Obama for his handling of race relations in the U.S., and white and black Americans assess his presidency differently on this measure. Overall, 46% of Americans approve of how Barack Obama is handling race relations, while 44% disapprove. Among whites, more disapprove (50%) than approve (40%), while blacks overwhelmingly approve (72%).

President Obamas Handling of Race Relations Total Whites Blacks

Approve 46% 40% 72% Disapprove 44 50 20

More specifically, although 62% of white Americans think the Obama administrations policies treat both blacks and whites equally, more than a quarter of whites (27%) think his policies favor blacks over whites, up from just 12% in 2010 and this rises to 49% among whites who disapprove of the Presidents handling of race relations. In contrast, 85% of blacks think the policies of the Obama Administration favor both blacks and whites equally.

Do the Policies of the Obama Administration? ********** Now *********** ********* 2010 *********** Total Whites Blacks Total Whites Blacks Treat both the same 67% 62% 85% 83% 81% 93% Favor blacks over whites 22 27 2 11 12 3 Favor whites over blacks 4 3 7 2 1 1 Still, 45% of Americans think President Obama has been judged more harshly because he is black; blacks (80%) are far more likely to think so than whites (37%).

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Have Most Americans Judged Barack Obama? Total Whites Blacks

More harshly because hes black 45% 37% 80% Less harshly because hes black 9 10 4

Being black has had no effect 42 48 14 And while many Americans remain critical of President Obamas handling of race relations, more Americans think the Democratic Party (44%) is more likely to improve race relations than the Republican Party (23%).

Which Party is More Likely to Improve Race Relations? Total Whites Blacks Democratic Party 44% 40% 65% Republican Party 23 29 10 Race, the Criminal Justice System and the Police Half of Americans now say that the criminal justice system in the U.S. is biased against blacks, up from 35% two years ago. This is the highest that figure has been since the question was first asked in 1994.

U.S. Criminal Justice System is Now 8/2013 1/2007 2/2000 9/1995 7/1994 Biased in favor of blacks 5% 5% 2% 2% 6% 6% Biased against blacks 49 35 36 43 33 25 Treats blacks fairly 40 43 49 43 52 56 Among blacks, 77% say it is biased, up from 61% two years ago.

U.S. Criminal Justice System is ********* Now ********* ****** Aug 2013 ***** Total Whites Blacks Total Whites Blacks Biased in favor of blacks 5% 5% 1% 5% 5% 8% Biased against blacks 49 44 77 35 30 61 Treats blacks fairly 40 46 17 43 48 19 In comparison, just 6% of Americans say it is biased against whites, 26% say it is biased in favor of whites, and 59% say it treats them fairly. Views of the police are similarly different depending on race. A sizable minority of Americans (41%) think the police are more apt to use deadly force against a black person a figure that rises to 74% among blacks, and even higher to 83% among black men.

Police Are Most Likely to Use Deadly Force Against Black Black Total Whites Blacks Men Women A black person 41% 34% 74% 83% 67% A white person 1 1 - - -

Race doesnt matter 52 58 22 14 28

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There have been a number of high profile deaths of blacks by police in recent months, and 38% of the public thinks the number of unarmed black people killed by police has increased in the past year; 64% of blacks concur.

Number of Unarmed Blacks Killed by Police in Past Year Has Black Black Total Whites Blacks Men Women Increased 38% 31% 64% 58% 68% Decreased 4 4 1 2 1 Stayed the same 48 54 31 38 24 While three in four Americans, and 82% of whites, say their local police make them feel mostly safe, some blacks have a different view. Fewer -- 58% -- say the police make them feel safe, and 37% say the police make them anxious.

Do Police in Your Community Make you Feel? Black Black Total Whites Blacks Men Women

Mostly safe 76% 82% 58% 53% 62% Mostly anxious 21 17 37 42 34

The poll also suggests that whites and blacks have different experiences when it comes to their interactions with police. Few whites say they have been stopped by the police as a result of their race or ethnic background, but 41% of blacks say that has happened to them. These percentages have been consistent since 2000. Perhaps even more striking is that more than six in 10 black men feel they have been stopped by police because of their race.

Ever Stopped by Police Because of Your Race or Ethnic Background? Black Black Total Whites Blacks Men Women Yes 13% 5% 41% 64% 24% No 86 95 57 36 73 Voting in the U.S. The poll included questions on voting difficulties and limits, and the results find whites and blacks again hold quite different views. When it comes to voting, seven in 10 white Americans think blacks and whites are treated the same, but 50% of blacks think black Americans are more likely to face problems voting than whites.

Who Is More Likely to Encounter Problems Voting? Total Whites Blacks

White people 3% 3% 2% Black people 27 24 50 No difference 67 71 47

In recent years, some states and counties have pushed to shorten the voting hours and times available for people to vote early and absentee. Only 20% of whites think these reductions are attempts to suppress votes, this rises to 46% among blacks. Many dont know enough to say.

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Shortening Early Voting Hours in Some States

Is an Attempt to. Total Whites Blacks

Save money 18% 19% 11% Make it harder for minorities to vote 22 20 46 Dont know enough to say 54 53 40

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- This poll was conducted by telephone July 14-19, 2015 among a random sample of 1,205 adults nationwide.

Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed

from random samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.

Additional interviews were conducted with African Americans, who had previously completed a survey as part

of a random sample, to yield a sample size of 312 African Americans. 751 whites were interviewed.

The combined African American and non-African American samples were weighted separately to match their

groups population characteristics such as gender, age, education, region, marital status and phone use based

on recent U.S. Census estimates. The samples were then combined and weighted to the total U.S. adult

population.

The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The error for subgroups may be higher. The margin of error for the sample of whites is 4 points and 8 points

for African Americans. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the

Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL The State of Race Relations in the U.S. July 14-19, 2015 Q1. Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black May15c % % % % Right direction 27 24 37 33 Wrong track 66 71 54 63 Don't know/No answer 7 5 9 5 Q2. Which comes closer to your view? In today's economy, (everyone has a fair chance to get ahead in the long run) or in today's economy, (it's mainly just a few people at the top who have a chance to get ahead)? Everyone has a fair chance to get ahead 38 37 39 35 Just a few people at top get ahead 58 59 59 61 Don't know/No answer 5 5 3 4 Q3. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

Apr15d Generally good 37 37 28 34 Generally bad 57 56 68 61 Don't know/No answer 6 6 4 5 Q4. Do you think race relations in the United States are getting better, getting worse or staying about the same? Getting better 21 21 18 17 Getting worse 38 40 40 44 Staying the same 39 38 40 37 Don't know/No answer 1 1 2 2 Q5. Do you think race relations in your community are generally good or generally bad?

Feb15d Generally good 77 79 67 79 Generally bad 20 17 29 16 Don't know/No answer 3 4 4 5

Q6. In general, who do you think has a better chance of getting ahead in todays society (white people), (black people), or do white people and black people have about an equal chance of getting ahead? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Jun14c2 % % % % White people 39 35 60 30 Black people 5 7 1 5 Equal 51 55 35 61 Don't know/No answer 4 4 3 4 Q18. In order to make up for past discrimination, do you favor or oppose programs which make special efforts to help minorities get ahead?

Mar11a Favor 58 51 83 51 Oppose 35 41 14 40 Don't know/No answer 8 8 4 10 Q7. Some people say that since the 1960s there has been a lot of real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination against blacks. Others say that there hasnt been much real progress for blacks over that time. Which do you agree with more? Would you say theres been a lot of real progress getting rid of racial discrimination or hasnt there been much real progress?

Feb15d Been a lot of real progress 71 75 56 76 Hasn't been much real progress 24 21 41 20 Don't know/No answer 5 5 3 4 Q8. How important is improving race relations to the future of the U.S. --is it the single most important issue, or is it important but so are other issues, or is it not important to the future of the U.S.? The single most important issue 10 6 20 Important, but so are other issues 82 85 74 Not important to the future of the U.S 7 7 4 Don't know/No answer 2 2 1 Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling race relations? Approve 46 40 72 Disapprove 44 50 20 Don't know/No answer 10 10 8

Q10. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the (Republican Party) or the (Democratic Party) is more likely to improve race relations in this country? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Feb00a % % % % Republican Party 23 29 10 21 Democratic Party 44 40 65 49 Both (Vol.) 3 3 2 3 Neither (Vol.) 15 15 15 11 Don't know/No answer 14 13 8 16 Q11. Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?

REG Jul08a

Would 62 64 64 70 Would not 25 24 28 18 Don't know/No answer 12 12 8 12 Q12. Would you personally vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?

REG Jul08a

Would 82 85 77 92 Would not 10 8 15 4 Don't know/No answer 8 6 9 4 Q13. In general, who do you think is more likely to encounter problems when trying to vote (white people), (black people), or isnt there much difference?

Feb15d White people 3 3 2 3 Black people 27 24 50 27 No difference 67 71 47 67 Don't know/No answer 3 3 1 3 Q14. In recent years, some state legislatures and officials have shortened the voting hours and times available for people to vote early or absentee. From what you may have heard, do you think such efforts are (mainly an attempt to save money for states with budget problems), or (mainly an attempt to make it harder for minority and lower income groups to vote), or haven't you heard enough about this yet to say? To save money 18 19 11 To make it harder for minorities to vote 22 20 46 Haven't heard enough to say 54 53 40 Both (Vol.) 1 1 * Neither (Vol.) 3 3 * Don't know/No answer 3 4 2

Q15. In general, do you think the policies of the Obama Administration favor (whites over blacks), favor (blacks over whites), or do they treat both groups the same? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Apr10a % % % % Favor whites over blacks 4 3 7 2 Favor blacks over white 22 27 2 11 Treat both the same 67 62 85 83 Don't know/No answer 7 8 5 4 Q16. Has Barack Obamas presidency (brought blacks and whites closer together), has it (pushed blacks and whites further apart), or hasn't it had much effect one way or the other? Closer together 15 11 30 Further apart 34 41 15 No effect 47 45 50 Don't know/No answer 4 3 5 Q17. In general, do you think most Americans have judged Barack Obama more harshly because he's black, less harshly because he's black, or has his being black not affected how most Americans have judged Barack Obama ? More harshly 45 37 80 Less harshly 9 10 4 Not affected 42 48 14 Don't know/No answer 4 5 3 Q19. In general, do you think the criminal justice system in the United States is biased in favor of blacks, or is it biased against blacks, or does it generally give blacks fair treatment?

Aug13a Biased in favor of blacks 5 5 1 5 Biased against blacks 49 44 77 35 Treat fairly 40 46 17 43 Don't know/No answer 6 6 5 17 Q20. In general, do you think the criminal justice system in the United States is biased in favor of whites, or is it biased against whites, or does it generally give whites fair treatment? Biased in favor 26 22 43 Biased against 6 7 4 Treat fairly 59 61 47 Don't know/No answer 9 10 6

Q21. How would you describe your feelings about the police in your community? Would you say they make you feel mostly (safe) or mostly (anxious)?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Apr15d % % % % Mostly safe 76 82 58 75 Mostly anxious 21 17 37 21 Don't know/No answer 3 2 5 3 Q22. In general, do you think the police in most communities are more likely to use deadly force against a (black person), or more likely to use it against a (white person), or dont you think race affects police use of deadly force? More likely against black person 41 34 74 44 More likely against white person 1 1 - 2 Race does not affect 52 58 22 46 Don't know/No answer 6 7 4 9 Q23. In the last year, do you think the number of unarmed black people killed by police has (increased), (decreased) or stayed about the same? Increased 38 31 64 Decreased 4 4 1 Stayed the same 48 54 31 Don't know/No answer 11 11 4 Q24. Have you ever felt you were stopped by the police just because of your race or ethnic background, or not?

Jul08a Yes 13 5 41 13 No 86 95 57 86 Don't know/No answer * * 2 1 Q25-Q29 Released separately Q30. How comfortable do you think most people feel when they have conversations about race with someone of another race -- very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable?

Aug14b %

Very comfortable 11 10 6 8 Somewhat comfortable 22 23 20 36 Somewhat uncomfortable 45 46 48 36 Very uncomfortable 17 14 23 13 Don't know/No answer 6 7 3 7

Q31. What about you? How comfortable do you personally feel when you have a conversation about race with someone of another race -- very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Aug14b % % % % Very comfortable 47 47 50 49 Somewhat comfortable 26 28 23 31 Somewhat uncomfortable 17 18 17 13 Very uncomfortable 6 3 8 5 Don't know/No answer 3 4 2 3 Q32. Was there ever a specific instance when you felt discriminated against because of your race, or not?

Aug13a Yes 42 31 72 36 No 57 69 27 62 Don't know/No answer * * 1 2 Q33. Do you personally know any black people who are prejudiced against white people, or not? Yes 49 46 58 No 49 53 40 Don't know/No answer 1 1 2 Q34. Do you personally know any white people who are prejudiced against black people, or not? Yes 65 68 61 No 34 31 38 Don't know/No answer 1 1 1 Q35. About how many of the people you regularly come in contact with are black none, a few, about half, or almost all?

Aug14b None 4 4 - 7 A few 58 64 24 57 About half 29 27 43 24 Almost all 7 3 32 11 Don't know/No answer 1 1 1 1 Q36. About how many of the people you regularly come in contact with are white none, a few, about half, or almost all? None 1 * 4 A few 14 9 31 About half 37 34 48 Almost all 47 56 16 Don't know/No answer 1 1 *

Q37. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are black none, a few, about half or almost all? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total White Black Feb15d % % % % None 16 18 3 16 A few 58 61 33 55 About half 18 17 31 20 Almost all 7 3 32 7 Don't know/No answer * * 1 3 Q38. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are white none, a few, about half or almost all? None 3 1 11 3 A few 18 12 40 15 About half 26 24 27 31 Almost all 52 62 21 49 Don't know/No answer 1 1 1 2 Q39. Are you currently employed - either full-time or part-time or are you temporarily out of work, or are you not in the market for work at all? Currently employed 58 56 64 Temporarily out of work 10 9 12 Not in the market for work 14 15 10 Retired 18 20 14 Don't know/No answer * * * Q40. About how many of the people you work with are black none, a few, about half or almost all? AMONG EMPLOYED Apr09b None 22 25 10 28 A few 55 56 39 46 About half 19 16 35 20 Almost all 5 3 16 4 Don't know/No answer * * * 2 Q41. About how many of the people you work with are white none, a few, about half or almost all? AMONG EMPLOYED None 6 4 6 A few 14 10 22 About half 30 28 39 Almost all 51 58 32 Don't know/No answer * * *

Q42. Are any of your close friends black, or not? **** NOT BLACK **** Total White % % Yes 69 69 No 31 30 Don't know/No answer * * Q43. Are any of your close friends white, or not? **** NOT WHITE **** Total Black % % Yes 76 77 No 23 23 Don't know/No answer 1 - Unweighted Weighted Margin of error Total Respondents 1,205 3pts Whites 751 839 4pts Blacks 312 148 8pts