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Democracy and Racial Inequality Samuel L. Myers, Jr. Roy Wilkins - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Democracy and Racial Inequality Samuel L. Myers, Jr. Roy Wilkins - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Democracy and Racial Inequality Samuel L. Myers, Jr. Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice University of Minnesota March 15, 2015 constitutional democracy a system of government based on popular sovereignty in which the
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1st Amendment vs 14th Amendment
Supreme Court unanimously reaffirms: There is no ‘hate speech’ exception to the First Amendment
Mateo vs Tam 2017
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14th Amendment: Equal Protection
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BUT MAJORITY BELIEFS AFFECT POLICIES TOWARD INEQUALITY
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Attitudes Towards Race: General Social Survey
On the average (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) have worse jobs, income, and housing than white
- people. Do you think these differences are . . .
– Mainly due to discrimination? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) have less in-born ability to learn? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) don't have the chance for education that it takes to rise out of poverty? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) just don't have the motivation or will power to pull themselves up out of poverty?
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WHAT DO WHITES BELIEVE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF RACIAL INEQUALITY?
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Fact 1:
Vast majority of whites believe that racial inequality
is due to the lack of will among blacks
A sizeable minority of whites believe that racial
inequality is due to inborn disability among blacks
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Fact #2
The vast majority of whites do not believe that the
cause of racial inequality is discrimination
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0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Differences "not" due to Discrimination: Whites Only
Graduate College Less than College
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Fact #3
There is widespread opposition to racial preferences
- r affirmative action among whites
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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Favor preferences in hiring blacks Black White
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60% 65% 70% 75% 80% 85% 90% 95% 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Opposed to Affirmative Action by Education: Whites Only
Graduate College Less than college
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Fact #4
Less well-educated whites believe that racial
preferences hurt whites
But, the majority of whites, of all education levels,
believe that whites are hurt by racial preferences
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40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Whites hurt by Affirmative Action: Whites Only
Graduate College Less than College
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Implications
Will of majority affects:
– Beliefs about the problem of racial inequality – Agreement about solutions to the problem of racial inequality
Constitutional Protections affect:
– Ability of the majority to express their opposition to the minority and their aspirations – Ability of minority to express concerns about racism and racial discrimination
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