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Americans Say Racism Exists, but Shrug at Solutions

September 1, 2025

A recent Gallup poll shows 64% of Americans believe racism against Black people is widespread, matching the record high set in 2021 following George Floyd's murder. Despite this acknowledgment, less than half of Americans support creating new civil rights laws to reduce discrimination, representing a 15-point decline from 2020. Significant racial divides exist in the polling data, with 80% of Black adults perceiving widespread racism compared to 61% of white adults, and nearly 75% of Black respondents supporting new civil rights protections versus just 40% of white respondents.

Who is affected

  • Black Americans who experience racism differently than other racial groups
  • White Americans who have different perceptions about racial equality
  • Hispanic Americans (mentioned in polling data)
  • Americans broadly as they navigate differing understandings of racism
  • Workplaces, healthcare settings, and law enforcement agencies where treatment disparities are reported

What action is being taken

  • Gallup is conducting ongoing polling about racism and civil rights perceptions
  • Americans are acknowledging racism exists (64% believe it's widespread)
  • Americans are largely not supporting new civil rights legislation (less than half believe new laws are needed)
  • Organizations are conducting anti-DEI campaigns (referenced as part of current "whitelash reality")

Why it matters

  • The data reveals persistent racial divides in how Americans perceive equality and racism
  • Support for civil rights legislation has declined significantly (15 points) since 2020
  • There's a stark disconnect between acknowledging racism exists and supporting solutions
  • The poll exposes differences in how racial groups perceive fairness in everyday situations like healthcare, employment, and police encounters
  • The findings indicate a reversal from post-Floyd momentum for racial justice initiatives

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint