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Public opinion surveys among the Black community are relatively rare, with the exception of small subsamples within general
population surveys. In a typical nationally-representative survey of n = 1,000 adults, only n = 130 respondents will be Black. For
researchers, the potential errors introduced are large when we report findings based off such a small subsample. One reason
surveys among Black adults are infrequent is cost. The cost of rigorous survey research is directly correlated with the incidence of
the target population. Black adults comprise 13 percent of adults in the U.S. and therefore take more time and funds to reach.
The survey was conducted among n = 1,003 Black adults 18 and older from July 18 to August 7, 2017. The margin of sampling
error is + 4.21 percentage points. The survey was administered by the University of Chicagos NORC AmeriSpeaks panel. More
detailed methods are in the Appendix. The questionnaire with topline results can be found here.
PerryUndem is a non-partisan public opinion research firm based in Washington, DC. The firm conducts research on public policy
issues. Our clients include the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Cancer
Society.
This study was commissioned by In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda, with funding from the
Ford Foundation.
2
SUMMARY.
The Black community is bracing for worse times Most say it is not a good time to be Black in
under President Trump. A large majority of Black America. Eighteen percent say it is a good time
adults (84 percent) feels the country is off on the to be a Black woman in America, compared to
wrong track. Two-thirds (66 percent) feels 61 percent saying it is a good time to be a
worried about President Trump and about the White woman. Twelve percent say it is a good
same proportion (64 percent) thinks the Presidents time to be a Black man versus 69 percent saying
policies will negatively impact Black people (versus the same of a White man.
13 percent who think policies will negatively
impact White people). See page 18.
3
Majorities of Black adults think the Presidents policies
will have a negative effect on each of these things:
Quality, affordable health care Keep children safe from mass incarceration
Affordable mental health care Keep children safe from over-policing
Affordable child care Have equal pay in the workplace
Affordable housing Have equal opportunities to move up in the workplace
Affordable birth control Feel safe in neighborhoods
Affordable, legal abortion care Get treatment for drug and alcohol addiction
Quality public schools Vote in future elections without barriers
Healthy and affordable food options Raise children
Job opportunities that pay a livable wage Get help in situations of domestic violence
Higher education Plan whether or when to become a parent
4
Majorities of Black adults think racism affects Half to two-thirds think racism affects the Black
many factors related to opportunities. communitys ability to
5
Black adults say they have weighed many factors in
deciding whether or not to have children.
7
Black mothers of children under 18 are particularly likely to have
been unsafe in their bodies. About six in ten (59 percent) have
experienced sexual assault or pressure. Forty-four percent have been
pressured to have sex when they did not want to. One in three (32
percent) says someone had sex with them without their consent. One
Many Black women have been unsafe in their in four (26 percent) has been made to have sex without a condom.
bodies: experiencing sexual pressure, assault, and More than four in ten (46 percent) could only afford to pay $10 or less
a lack of autonomy. Among Black women in the for birth control if they needed it today.
survey
Seven in ten (70 percent) say they do not want their child(ren) to have
37 percent say someone has pressured them to a life similar to theirs.
have sex when they did not want to
33 percent have the feeling, at least once in awhile, One in three (35 percent) has tried to get health care recently because
that other people feel entitled to their body they thought President Trump and Congress might affect their access
28 percent say someone had sex with them without to care. Three in four (78 percent) feel worried about President
their permission or consent Trump.
20 percent have been made to have sex without a
condom See page 55.
16 percent have been made to have oral or anal sex
Half of Black women (51 percent) has experienced Large majorities of Black adults say a womans ability to control
some type of sexual pressure or force. whether and when she has children is important to her and her
familys financial security. Close to three in four (73 percent) say
See page 31. controlling when and whether to have children is very important to
financial security.
9
DETAILED FINDINGS.
Views toward
reproductive-related Trusted voices on policy Appendix
Methods + Issue briefs
policies
10
Feelings toward
the political environment.
11
Most Black adults feel the country
is off on the wrong track and are worried
about President Trump.
45% Scared
12
Many think the Presidents policies
will negatively affect Black people.
Positively 5% 32%
13
% Who think the Presidents policies will have
a negative effect on the Black communitys ability to
Heres how.
Do you think President Trumps 70% 68% 67%
policies will have a positive effect, Have access to affordable Have access to Have access to
negative effect, or no effect on the housing affordable birth control affordable, legal
abortion care
Black communitys ability to
(77% unmarried women)
14
% Who think the Presidents policies will have
a negative effect on the Black communitys ability to
17%
to get birth control recently because
they think President Trump and
Congress might affect their ability to
get care.
16
Perspectives on racism
and public policy issues.
17
Most do not think it is a good time to
be Black in America.
Considering everything, do
you think it is a good time or
a bad time to be a _____ in
America?
19
Do you think systems in our society are
20
% Yes
RACISM
workplace
21
% Yes
Do you think racism affects the Black communitys ability to
22
Intersections of policy issues and family.
23
Do you want your child(ren) to have
a life similar to yours?
Base n =760, parents
A majority of parents do
not want their children to No
Yes
34%
have a life similar to theirs. 65%
24
At any time in the past, have any of these things
been part of your thinking or decision-making
about whether or not to have a child?
% Yes
26
1 in 3 Black adults has had
brown water come out of
their taps at home.
55%
YES TO ANY
35% 35%
Has had brown
Has had to boil
water come out
water at home
of the taps at 29% before 50%
home Has had water Say having access to clean
drinking it
that smelled water has been a factor in
deciding to become a
unsafe from the parent.
taps at home
27
Views on over-policing, mass incarceration, and families.
Do you think over-policing of Black people... Do you think mass incarceration of Black people
80% 87%
Damages
Damages families
families
76% 81%
Makes it Makes it harder
harder to raise to raise children
children
65% 69%
Has an effect on Has an effect on
Black womens
Black womens
health 62% health 66%
Takes away Black Takes away Black
people's choices and people's choices and
freedoms around Married men freedoms around
deciding whether to deciding whether to
(79% say mass be a parent
be a parent
incarceration affects
Black womens health) 28
Have you ever talked to your
children about what to do if
82% YES.
Among n = 427 parents whose
stopped by police? children are 18 and older
29
Black womens control
over their bodies.
30
% of Black women who
Base n = 659
31
% of Black mothers of children under 18
Base n = 224
32
Do you think a womans ability to control whether
or when she has children is an important part of
financial stability for herself and her family, or not?
33
If your or a loved one needed prescription birth control today, how
much would you be able to pay for it, out of pocket? Even if you or
your loved one dont expect to need prescription birth control, please
imagine a situation in which you do and give me your best estimate.
Base n = 268 women ages 18 to 44
control today.
39% 46%
Of mothers of children
say they could under 18 say they could
afford $10 or less afford $10 or less
34
Views toward
reproductive-related policies.
35
Majorities consider a range of reproductive health
care as basic health care services for women.
96% yes 95% yes 93% yes 89% yes 66% yes
36
Coverage for reproductive health care
does not seem controversial among Black adults.
ATTENDS
92%
RELIGIOUS SERV.
A woman should be able to get birth WOMEN MEN
control through her health insurance, even WEEKLY+
agree
if her boss disagrees with the idea of birth 91% 91% 90%
control.
(77% strongly)
37
The right to abortion also
79% seems uncontroversial
Attend religious
services once a week
Do not overturn among most Black adults.
or more (69%)
Roe v. Wade
18%
Overturn
Roe v. Wade 89% agree (72% strongly)
38
Lets say a woman has decided to have an abortion.
Would you want the care to
Pressure her to change her mind 17% 80% Be respectful of her decision
39
Among Black women
Base n = 659
9%
17% Would rather
not say
Say they
have had
86% an abortion
Attend religious
Of Black adults would give services once a
week+ (12%)
a close friend or family
member support if she
had an abortion. (56% a Among Black men
lot; 22% some; 8% a little) Base n = 344
8%
23% Would rather
not say
Say a partner
has had an
Attend religious services once a week or more abortion
(80%; 51% a lot; 23% some; 6% a little) Attend religious
services once a
week+ (26%)
40
Most side with wanting
young people to have
comprehensive sex
education. Attend religious
78%
services once a
week+ (73%)
21%
Teen sexual development needs to be closely Teen sexual development is a normal part of
controlled and giving young people information growing up and the best approach is to ensure
about things like condoms and birth control will that young people have all of the information
only encourage them to have sex too early. and education about sex and contraception
they need.
extremely important
for freedom to raise
healthy children. 70% 69% 68%
Improving access to Having equal Improving access to
higher education opportunities to move up affordable child care
in the workplace
43
% Extremely important
To making it a better time to be a Black woman in America,
who is free to raise healthy children if she chooses
44
Trusted people + groups on policy.
45
Most trusted
Others not as well known:
voices. Michelle Obama (92% trust, 69% a lot)
National Urban League
(65% trust, 25% have not heard of)
Do you personally trust any of
these people or groups to work on American Civil Liberties Union
issues important to you? Barack Obama (92% trust, 67% a lot) (57% trust, 27% have not heard of)
Color of Change
(40% trust, 52% have not heard of)
Kamala Harris
(33% trust, 56% have not heard of)
46
Appendix.
47
METHODS
48
ISSUE BRIEFS
49
HEALTH CARE
Access to quality,
affordable health care
75%
Believe President Trumps policies Care for pregnant transmitted diseases,
will have a negative impact on the women (96%) including HIV/AIDS (93%)
Black communitys ability to access
63%
Say this has been part of their
and breast cancer (95%)
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child
50
(cont.)
92% 88%
Agree a woman should be able to get Agree whether she has private or government
birth control through her health insurance, funded health coverage, every woman should have
even if her boss disagrees coverage for the full range of pregnancy-related care,
including prenatal care and abortion
22% 65%
Of Black adults have tried to get health care recently
Think over-policing of Black people
because they think President Trump and Congress
has an effect on Black womens health
might affect their ability to get care (including 25%
of women and 35% of mothers of children under 18)
51
BIRTH CONTROL
89%
Considers birth control part of basic
Access to quality, affordable health care services for women
birth control
89%
Agree a woman should be able to get
birth control through her health insurance,
even if her boss disagrees
Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to
access
62%
39%
Of Black women ages 18 to 44 could
afford $10 or less if they needed birth
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the
Black communitys ability to access
68% control today
46%
Of Black women of young children (under
18) could afford $10 or less if they needed
47%
Say increasing access is extremely birth control today
important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
17%
Of Black women ages 18 to 44 tried to
healthy children if she chooses get birth control recently because they
think President Trump and Congress
42%
Say this has been part of their might affect their ability to get care
thinking or decision-making about
93%
whether or not to have a child Think sex education programs in high
school should cover preventing
pregnancy by using birth control
52
ABORTION
Agree whether she has private or government
67%
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the
79%
Black communitys ability to access
Do not want Roe v. Wade overturned
33%
Say increasing access is extremely
important to making it a better time to be a
89%
Agree each woman should have the right to make
Black woman in America, who is free to raise her own decision on abortion, even if I may disagree
healthy children if she chooses with her decision
37% 28%
Have been pressured to Say someone had sex with them without
have sex when they did not their permission or consent
want to
34% 20%
Have felt pressured to take part in Were made to have sex
a sexual act before they were without a condom
ready
51%
Have experienced sexual pressure or force in
at least one of the above scenarios
(excluding feeling other people feel entitled
to their bodies)
54
BLACK MOTHERS
OF YOUNG CHILDREN
Base n = 224, mothers of children under 18
70% 92%
Do not want their child(ren) to have a life Say a womans ability to control whether and
similar to theirs when she has children is important for her and
her familys financial security (79% very important)
35%
Have tried to get health care recently
because they thought President Trump and
Congress might affect their access to care
73% Feel the Presidents policies will have a negative
effect on the Black communitys ability to access
birth control
Say someone had sex with them without
their permission or consent 32%
72% Feel the Presidents policies will have a negative
effect on the Black communitys ability to access
26%
Were made to have sex abortion care
without a condom
Half or more say the following has been part of their decision-
Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to plan 50% making around parenting:
50%
Believe President Trumps policies Having access to higher education: 67%
will have a negative impact on the The safety of their neighborhood: 65%
Black communitys ability to plan Having access to quality public schools: 64%
Being married: 63%
Having access to quality, affordable health care: 63%
Having equal opportunities to move up in the workplace: 63%
Having equal pay in the workplace: 62%
Raise children Having access to affordable housing: 62%
Having access to affordable child care: 60%
Having access to healthy and affordable food options: 59%
Mass incarceration of Black people: 55%
63%
Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to Over-policing of Black communities: 54%
raise children The state of their physical neighborhood, trash clean up, etc.: 52%
Being safe from situations of domestic violence: 51%
Have access to clean water: 50%
58%
Believe Trumps policies will have a
negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to raise children
56
CLEAN WATER
57% 35%
Believe racism affects the Have had to boil water at home before
Black community's ability to drinking it
access
49% 35%
Believe President Trumps policies will have Had brown water come out of the taps in
a negative impact on the Black their home
communitys ability to access
70% 29%
Say increasing access is extremely Had water that smelled unsafe come from
important to making it a better time to be a the taps in their home
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
50% 51%
Say access to clean water has been part Have experienced as least one of these: had
of their thinking or decision-making to boil water at home before drinking, had
about whether or not to have a child brown water come out of taps, or had water
that smelled unsafe come out of taps
57
FOOD HOUSING
Access to healthy,
Access to affordable housing
affordable food options
68% 73%
Believe racism affects the Believe racism affects the Black
Black community's ability to community's ability to access
access
63% 70%
Believe President Trumps policies Believe President Trumps policies will
will have a negative impact on the have a negative impact on the Black
Black communitys ability to access communitys ability to access
59% 62%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child
58
K-12 EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION
73% 74%
Believe racism affects the Black Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to access community's ability to access
63% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies Believe President Trumps policies will
will have a negative impact on the have a negative impact on the Black
Black communitys ability to access communitys ability to access
64% 67%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child
59
CHILD CARE
71%
Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black
Think improving access to affordable
66%
communitys ability to access
child care is extremely important to
making it a better time to be a Black
Say increasing access is extremely to woman in American who is free to raise
60%
Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child
60
MASS
INCARCERATION
65% 81%
Believe President Trumps policies will Say mass incarceration of Black people
have a negative impact on the Black makes it harder to raise children
communitys ability to do this
56% 66%
Say this is extremely important to making Say mass incarceration of Black people takes
it a better time to be a Black woman in away Black peoples choices and freedoms
America, who is free to raise healthy around deciding whether to be a parent
children if she chooses
55% 87%
Say this has been part of their Say mass incarceration of Black people
thinking or decision-making about damages families
whether or not to have a child
61
OVER-POLICING
62%
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the
Black communitys ability to do this 76% Say over-policing of Black people makes
it harder to raise children
50% 62%
Say this is extremely important to making Say over-policing of Black people takes away
it a better time to be a Black woman in Black peoples choices and freedoms around
America, who is free to raise healthy deciding whether to be a parent
children if she chooses
54% 80%
Say this has been part of their Say over-policing of Black people
thinking or decision-making about damages families
whether or not to have a child
62
RIGHT TO VOTE EQUAL PAY
60% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies will Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to have this communitys ability to have this
46% 62%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child
63
FINANCIAL SECURITY
78% 80%
Believe racism affects the Believe racism affects the Black
Black community's ability to community's ability to have
have this
63% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies will Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to have this communitys ability to have this
73%
Say increasing this is extremely important Say increasing is extremely important to
to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
69% making it a better time to be a Black woman
in America, who is free to raise healthy
children if she chooses
72% 63%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child
64
ADDICTION VIOLENCE
67% 68%
Say increasing access is extremely Say increasing access is extremely
important to making it a better time to be a important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses healthy children if she chooses
45% 51%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child
65
CITY SERVICES SAFETY
61%
Say increasing this is extremely important Believe President Trumps policies will
to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
58% have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to feel this
65%
Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child
66
For more information:
Tresa Undem
tresa@perryundem.com
Jennifer Uribe
jennifer@perryundem.com