ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 12-15, 2010. N=1,083 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3.5), including, with an oversample, 153 blacks (MoE ± 8.5).

.

"Do you think Barack Obama's election as president represents progress for all blacks in America more generally, or do you think it is only a single case that does not reflect broader progress for blacks overall?" Options rotated

.

1/12-15/10

Blacks

Whites

.

12/19/08 - 1/4/09

Blacks

Whites

.

"Do you think Obama's presidency has done more to help or more to hurt race relations in this country, or has it not made much of a difference?"

.

1/12-15/10

Blacks

Whites

.

"Do you think blacks have achieved racial equality, will soon achieve racial equality, will not achieve racial equality in your lifetime, or will never achieve racial equality?"

.

1/12-15/10

Blacks

Whites

.

1/13-16/09

Blacks

Whites

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 16-20, 2009. N=1,160 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including 786 non-Hispanic whites (MoE ± 3.5), and, with an oversample, 259 blacks (MoE ± 6).

.

"Thinking specifically about the effect of Barack Obama's presidency on relations between blacks and whites in this country, do you think his presidency has started a new era of better race relations, or do you think his presidency has resulted in some improvement in race relations but not started a new era, or do you think his presidency has created no real change in race relations in this country, or do you think that his presidency has made race relations worse?"

.

.

"In general, do you think blacks have as good a chance as white people in your community to get any kind of job for which they are qualified, or don't you think they have as good a chance?"

.

.

"Do you think black celebrities are singled out for unfair treatment by society, or are all celebrities generally treated the same, regardless of race?"

.

.

"Do you think race relations in this country will ever get better than they are, or don't you think so?"

.

.

.

"Martin Luther King gave his famous 'I Have a Dream Speech' at a civil rights march in Washington in 1963. In your view, do you think the U.S. has fulfilled the vision King outlined in that speech, or don't you think so?"

.

.

.

3/26 - 4/2/08

.

"Martin Luther King gave his famous 'I Have a Dream Speech' at a civil rights march in Washington in 1963. In your view, do you think the U.S. has fulfilled the vision King outlined in that speech, or don't you think so?" If hasn't fulfilled King's vision: "Do you think the U.S. can eventually fulfill the vision in King's speech, or don’t you think so?" Combined responses

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. July 31-Aug. 3, 2009. N=1,136 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including 773 non-Hispanic whites (MoE ± 3.5), and, with an oversample, 226 blacks (MoE ± 6.5).

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of how Obama has handled race relations since he became president?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Have you personally ever felt treated unfairly by the police or by a police officer specifically because of your race?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Next, we'd like to know how widespread you believe the problem of racism is against blacks among police officers in this country. Would you say it is very common, fairly common, fairly rare, or very rare?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

3/26 - 4/2/08

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Now I have some questions about an incident in Massachusetts in which a professor named Henry Louis Gates, who is black, was arrested for disorderly conduct at his home by a police officer named James Crowley, who is white. Based on what you have heard or read about this incident, do you think the police officer, James Crowley, acted stupidly or don't you think?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"And based on what you have heard or read about this incident, do you think the professor, Henry Louis Gates, acted stupidly or don't you think so?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Who would you say you sympathize with more: Henry Louis Gates, the professor who was arrested, or James Crowley, the police officer who arrested him?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Do you think a white homeowner would have been arrested if he had acted the same way in the same circumstances, or don't you think so?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"As you may know, Barack Obama made some comments about this incident at a televised press conference. Based on what you have read or heard about Obama's comments, do you think Obama acted stupidly when he made them, or don't you think so?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Did Obama's comments make you feel more favorable or less favorable toward him, or did those comments not change your view of Obama?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"As you may know, Barack Obama had a beer at the White House with the professor who was arrested and the police officer who arrested him. Do you think that event was a good idea or a bad idea?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Do you think this incident has taught Americans a lesson that will lead to better race relations in this country?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

CBS News/New York Times Poll. July 24-28, 2009. N=1,050 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Thinking about the country as a whole, do you think most police generally treat blacks and Hispanics better than whites, do they treat blacks and Hispanics worse than whites, or do they generally treat all groups the same?"

.

.

"Was there ever a specific instance when you felt discriminated against by the police because of your race or ethnic background?"

.

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey. July 27, 2009. N=480 adults nationwide who were first surveyed by Pew July 22-26, 2009. MoE ± 5.5.

.

"How much, if anything, have you heard about Barack Obama's comments regarding the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, a black Harvard professor, at his home after a dispute with a police officer: a lot, a little, or nothing at all?"

.

.

.

.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama has handled this situation?" If necessary: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama has handled the dispute between Gates and the police officer?"

.

.

"From what you've read and heard about what happened during the original incident, who, if anyone, would you say was more at fault: Henry Louis Gates, the professor, or James Crowley, the police officer?" Options rotated

.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). July 24-27, 2009. N=1,011 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"When it comes to the arrest of Henry Louis Gates by the Cambridge police officer, who do you feel is more at fault: Gates or the Cambridge police officer, or both of them? If you do not know enough or do not have an opinion just say so."

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 26-28, 2009. N=1,026 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In a case currently before the Supreme Court, a city decided to use a test to determine which firefighters should receive promotions. No black firefighters scored high enough on the test to earn a promotion, so the city decided not to offer promotions to the white firefighters who got the highest scores on the test. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? Those white firefighters were victims of discrimination and should get the promotions based on the test results. Because no black firefighters got high scores, the city should use a new test to make sure that blacks were not victims of discrimination." Options rotated

.

.

"Now let me read you two brief statements on affirmative action programs, and ask which one comes closer to your own point of view. Statement A:  Affirmative action programs are still needed to counteract the effects of discrimination against minorities, and are a good idea as long as there are no rigid quotas. OR, Statement B:  Affirmative action programs have gone too far in favoring minorities, and should be ended because they unfairly discriminate against whites."

.

AP-GfK Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. May 28-June 1, 2009. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"Do you generally favor or oppose affirmative action programs for racial and ethnic minorities?"

.

5/28 - 6/1/09

.

"Do you generally favor or oppose affirmative action programs for women?"

.

5/28 - 6/1/09

Quinnipiac University Poll. May 26-June 1, 2009. N=3,097 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 1.8 (for all registered voters).

.

"Do you think affirmative action programs that give preferences to blacks and other minorities in hiring, promotions and college admissions should be continued, or do you think these affirmative action programs should be abolished?"

.

ALL

Republicans

Democrats

Independents

.

"Which comes closer to your point of view? Affirmative action programs seek out qualified minorities and do not disadvantage members of other groups. OR, Affirmative action programs result in members of some minority groups being advantaged at the expense of other groups."

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"If affirmative action programs giving preference to blacks and other minorities do result in less opportunities for whites, do you think that's a price worth paying to help blacks and other minorities, or not?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Which comes closer to your point of view regarding affirmative action programs in the work place? (A) We should have affirmative action programs to overcome past discrimination. (B) We should have affirmative action programs to increase diversity. OR, (C) We should not have affirmative action programs."

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Do you think members of some racial groups should get preference for government jobs so that the workforce has the same racial makeup as its community?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Do you think members of some racial groups should get preference for jobs in private companies so that the workforce has the same racial makeup as its community?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Does Barack Obama's election as president make you more likely to support continuation of affirmative action programs, less likely, or does it not change your view?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to [see below] in hiring, promotions and college admissions?"

.

"Hispanics"

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"White women"

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Blacks"

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Those who are handicapped"

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Gays and lesbians"

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"Which do you think is the best term to describe these programs: affirmative action or preferences?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"As you may know, the United States Supreme Court will be deciding a case involving New Haven, Connecticut's use of promotion tests for firefighters. Because no blacks scored high enough to qualify for promotion, the city decided to throw the test out. Do you think the Supreme Court should uphold the city or order the city to promote the 14 white and one Hispanic firefighters who scored high enough for promotion?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

.

"As you may know, Sonia Sotomayor voted to uphold New Haven's decision as an appellate court judge. Does this make you more likely to favor her appointment to the Supreme Court, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?"

.

5/26 - 6/1/09

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 13-16, 2009. N=1,079 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including, with an oversample, 204 blacks (MoE ± 7).

.

"How big a problem is racism in our society today? Is it a big problem, somewhat of a problem, a small problem or not a problem at all?"

.

ALL

Blacks

Whites

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Jan. 12-15, 2009. N=1,245 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including 798 non-Hispanic whites (MoE ± 3.5), and, with an oversample, 332 blacks (MoE ± 5.5).

.

"Thinking specifically about the effect of Barack Obama's election as president on relations between blacks and whites in this country, do you think his election is the start of a new era of better race relations, or do you think his election will result in some improvement in race relations, but not start a new era, or do you think his election will create no real change in race relations in this country, or do you think that his election will make race relations worse?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Do you think that relations between blacks and whites will always be a problem for the United States, or that a solution will eventually be worked out?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

1/14-17/08

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Looking ahead over the next four years, do you think the quality of life for African-Americans will get better, stay about the same, or get worse?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"As you may know, the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960s to prevent state and local governments from using rules and procedures which prevented many blacks from voting. Do you think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today to make sure that blacks are allowed to vote, or do you think the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

ABC News Poll. Dec. 19, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. N=1,146 adults nationwide, including, with an oversample, 236 blacks. MoE ± 3 overall, ± 6.5 for blacks, ± 3.5 for whites.

.

"In your own personal identity do you think of yourself as [respondent's race] first, as an American first, or what?" Options rotated

.

12/19/08 - 1/4/09

ALL

Blacks

Whites

.

9/11-14/08

ALL

Blacks

Whites

.

"If you honestly assessed yourself, would you say that you have at least some feelings of racial prejudice?"

.

12/19/08 - 1/4/09

ALL

Blacks

Whites

.

6/12-15/08

ALL

Blacks

Whites

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Nov. 5, 2008. N=1,036 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think that relations between blacks and whites will always be a problem for the United States, or that a solution will eventually be worked out?"

.

11/5/08

6/5 - 7/6/08

5/1-3/08

6/4-24/07

6/8-25/06

6/6-25/05

6/9-30/04

.

"How do you view Barack Obama's election as president in terms of progress for blacks in the United States: as the most important advance for blacks in the past one hundred years, as one of the two or three most important advances for blacks in the past one hundred years, but not the most important, important, but not among the most important advances, or not that important?"

.

11/5/08

33

38

15

10

4

.

"As a result of Barack Obama's election, do you think race relations in this country will get a lot better, get a little better, not change, get a little worse, or get a lot worse?" Options rotated

.

11/5/08

28

42

17

7

3

CBS News/New York Times Poll. July 7-14, 2008. N=1,796 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including, with an oversample, 297 blacks (MoE ± 6) and 246 Hispanics (MoE ± 6).

.

"Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?"

.

.

"Do you think race relations in your community are generally good or generally bad?"

.

.

"Have you ever felt you were stopped by the police just because of your race or ethnic background?"

.

.

"Was there ever a specific instance when you felt discriminated against because of your race?"

.

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. June 18-29, 2008. N=2,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 2.5.

.

"In your view, is the growing variety of ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. very good, good, bad or very bad for the country?"

.

6/18-29/08

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 12-15, 2008. N=1,125 adults nationwide (MoE ± 3), including, with an oversample, 201 blacks.

.

"Generally speaking, do you think race relations in the United States are excellent, good, not so good or poor?"

.

6/12-15/08

3/92

.

"Do you think Obama's candidacy will do more to help or more to hurt race relations in this country, or won't it make much of a difference?"

.

ALL

Whites

Blacks

.

"Do you yourself know any black person / white person whom you consider a fairly close personal friend?" Asked of non-blacks about blacks, asked of blacks about whites

.

6/12-15/08

6/97

.

"Do you think blacks who live in your community experience racial discrimination, or not?" Asked of those with blacks in their community

.