Recent polling by Gallup indicates 64% of Americans believe that racism against Black people is widespread in the United States.
This finding remains consistent with data from previous years, showing a steady majority of the public acknowledges the persistence of racial discrimination. The poll highlights a significant divide in perceptions, particularly along racial and political lines, underscoring the different lived experiences and viewpoints across the country.
These findings are based on a June 2-26 Gallup survey. It included oversamples of Black and Hispanic adults to allow for more precise estimates among those subgroups. The overall sample was weighted so all racial/ethnic groups are represented in their proper proportions of the U.S. population.
A Look at the Numbers
The 64% figure is a notable statistic, but a deeper dive into the data reveals more nuanced perspectives. While a large majority of Americans overall see widespread racism against Black people, this view is not shared equally across all demographic groups.
- Black Americans: The poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Black adults consistently report that racism is widespread. This finding is supported by a separate 2024 Pew Research Center study. It found three-quarters of Black adults said they have experienced racial discrimination. They documented it was either on a regular basis (13%) or from time to time (62%).
- White Americans: Views among white Americans are more divided, but a majority still recognize the issue. However, their perceptions of how much discrimination is faced by Black people have been declining over the past year.
- Hispanics and Asians: While these groups are more likely than White Americans to acknowledge widespread racism against Black people, their numbers are not as high as those of Black Americans.
The Partisan Divide
The most significant split in public opinion on this topic is along political lines. Democrats and those who lean Democratic are far more likely than Republicans and Republican-leaning independents to say that Black people face widespread discrimination.
This partisan gap has been a consistent feature of polls on race and racism. For example, a Pew Research Center study found that while 94% of Democrats said Black people face at least some discrimination. However, only 54% of Republicans shared this view.
This ideological divide influences how Americans perceive not only interpersonal racism but also systemic issues. This is most impacted within institutions like the criminal justice and economic systems.
Personal vs. Systemic Racism in new Gallup poll
Another important dimension of these Gallup findings is the distinction between personal and systemic racism. While many Americans may agree that individual acts of prejudice exist, there is less consensus on whether U.S. institutions are inherently biased against Black people.
A separate Pew Research Center poll found that a majority of Black Americans believe that U.S. institutions were designed to hold Black people back, a view that is not as widely held among other racial groups. This difference in perception points to a fundamental disagreement about the roots of racial inequality in the U.S.
Black adults continue to be the most supportive of having new civil rights laws (74%). 53% of Hispanic adults and 40% of White adults agree. Black and White adults’ support for new laws peaked in 2020.
Currently, 55% of U.S. adults say Black people can get any kind of job for which they are qualified. On the other hand, 42% say they don’t have as good a chance as White people. Similarly, 56% believe that Black Americans can get any housing they can afford, while 41% are skeptical.
59% of Black Americans say they are treated unfairly on the job
Currently, there is a 29-percentage-point gap between Black Americans (59%) and White Americans (30%) in their belief that Black people are treated less fairly on the job or at work — the largest for any of the six situations.
The next largest gap in Black-White perceptions is on how Black people are treated when seeking healthcare. That is followed by during police encounters and when shopping downtown or at malls.
The consistent polling data on widespread racism against Black people highlights a national conversation that is far from over.
We’re covering how most Americans acknowledge racism against Black people as widespread—while deep divides remain over its causes and solutions. Independent journalism is essential to confront these realities and demand accountability.
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