CBSNEWS/NEWYORKTIMESPOLL

rd
Forrelease:Thursday,July23
,2015
6:30pmEDT

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?

Right direction
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
27
24
37
66
71
54
7
5
9

May15c
%
33
63
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
Just a few people at top get ahead
Don't know/No answer

38
58
5

37
59
5

39
59
3

35
61
4

Q3. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

Generally good
Generally bad
Don't know/No answer

37
57
6

37
56
6

28
68
4

Apr15d
34
61
5

Q4. Do you think race relations in the United States are getting better, getting worse or staying about the same?
Getting better
Getting worse
Staying the same
Don't know/No answer

21
38
39
1

21
40
38
1

18
40
40
2

17
44
37
2

Q5. Do you think race relations in your community are generally good or generally bad?

Generally good
Generally bad
Don't know/No answer

77
20
3

79
17
4

67
29
4

Feb15d
79
16
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?

White people
Black people
Equal
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
39
35
60
5
7
1
51
55
35
4
4
3

Jun14c2
%
30
5
61
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?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

58
35
8

51
41
8

83
14
4

Mar11a
51
40
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?

Been a lot of real progress

Hasn't been much real progress
Don't know/No answer

71
24
5

75
21
5

56
41
3

Feb15d
76
20
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
Important, but so are other issues
Not important to the future of the U.S
Don't know/No answer

10
82
7
2

6
85
7
2

20
74
4
1

Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling race relations?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

46
44
10

40
50
10

72
20
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?

Republican Party
Democratic Party
Both (Vol.)
Neither (Vol.)
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
23
29
10
44
40
65
3
3
2
15
15
15
14
13
8

Feb00a
%
21
49
3
11
16

Q11. Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?

Would
Would not
Don't know/No answer

62
25
12

64
24
12

64
28
8

REG
Jul08a
70
18
12

Q12. Would you personally vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?

Would
Would not
Don't know/No answer

82
10
8

85
8
6

77
15
9

REG
Jul08a
92
4
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?

White people
Black people
No difference
Don't know/No answer

3
27
67
3

3
24
71
3

2
50
47
1

Feb15d
3
27
67
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
To make it harder for minorities to vote

Haven't heard enough to say

Both (Vol.)
Neither (Vol.)
Don't know/No answer

18
22
54
1
3
3

19
20
53
1
3
4

11
46
40
*
*
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?

Favor whites over blacks

Favor blacks over white
Treat both the same
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
4
3
7
22
27
2
67
62
85
7
8
5

Apr10a
%
2
11
83
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
Further apart
No effect
Don't know/No answer

15
34
47
4

11
41
45
3

30
15
50
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
Less harshly
Not affected
Don't know/No answer

45
9
42
4

37
10
48
5

80
4
14
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?

Biased in favor of blacks

Biased against blacks

5
49

5
44

1
77

Aug13a
5
35
4

Treat fairly
Don't know/No answer

40
6

46
6

17
5

43
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
Biased against
Treat fairly
Don't know/No answer

26
6
59
9

22
7
61
10

43
4
47
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)?

Mostly safe
Mostly anxious
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
76
82
58
21
17
37
3
2
5

Apr15d
%
75
21
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
More likely against white person
Race does not affect
Don't know/No answer

41
1
52
6

34
1
58
7

74
22
4

44
2
46
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
Decreased
Stayed the same
Don't know/No answer

38
4
48
11

31
4
54
11

64
1
31
4

Q24. Have you ever felt you were stopped by the police just because of your race or ethnic background, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

13
86
*

5
95
*

41
57
2

Jul08a
13
86
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?

Very comfortable
Somewhat comfortable
Somewhat uncomfortable
Very uncomfortable
Don't know/No answer

11
22
45
17
6

10
23
46
14
7

6
20
48
23
3

Aug14b
%
8
36
36
13
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?

Very comfortable
Somewhat comfortable
Somewhat uncomfortable
Very uncomfortable
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
47
47
50
26
28
23
17
18
17
6
3
8
3
4
2

Aug14b
%
49
31
13
5
3

Q32. Was there ever a specific instance when you felt discriminated against because of your race, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

42
57
*

31
69
*

72
27
1

Aug13a
36
62
2

Q33. Do you personally know any black people who are prejudiced against white people, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

49
49
1

46
53
1

58
40
2

Q34. Do you personally know any white people who are prejudiced against black people, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

65
34
1

68
31
1

61
38
1

Q35. About how many of the people you regularly come in contact with are black none, a few, about half, or almost
all?

None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

4
58
29
7
1

4
64
27
3
1

24
43
32
1

Aug14b
7
57
24
11
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
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

1
14
37
47
1

*
9
34
56
1

4
31
48
16
*

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?

None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
16
18
3
58
61
33
18
17
31
7
3
32
*
*
1

Feb15d
%
16
55
20
7
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
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

3
18
26
52
1

1
12
24
62
1

11
40
27
21
1

3
15
31
49
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
Temporarily out of work
Not in the market for work
Retired
Don't know/No answer

58
10
14
18
*

56
9
15
20
*

64
12
10
14
*

Q40. About how many of the people you work with are black none, a few, about half or almost all?
AMONG EMPLOYED
22
25
10
55
56
39
19
16
35
5
3
16
*
*
*

None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

Apr09b
28
46
20
4
2

Q41. About how many of the people you work with are white none, a few, about half or almost all?
AMONG EMPLOYED
6
4
6
14
10
22
30
28
39
51
58
32
*
*
*

None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/No answer

Q42. Are any of your close friends black, or not?

**** NOT BLACK ****
Total White
%
%
69
69
31
30
*
*

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

Q43. Are any of your close friends white, or not?

**** NOT WHITE ****
Total
Black
%
%
76
77
23
23
1
-

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

Total Respondents
Whites
Blacks

Unweighted
1,205
751
312

Weighted

Margin of error
3pts

839
148

4pts
8pts