Nearly every American endorses racial equality. It's how to get there that divides us.

Susan Page, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read
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Nearly every American endorses the idea of racial equality.

The debates begin when we consider what should be done about it.

A new Public Agenda/USA TODAY Hidden Common Ground survey finds remarkable unity on some aspects of race and racism, perhaps the most fundamental divide in American history. But sharp differences emerge over the persistence of racism and the role of government, including the question of paying reparations to the descendants of people who were enslaved.

That question is now being considered in some cities across the country as a way of addressing the legacy of slavery, including racial disparities in wealth. In California, a state-appointed Reparations Task Force is set to present its final report by the end of this month, but Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have raised questions about proposed cash payments that could total hundreds of billions of dollars.

In the poll, those surveyed were divided 41%-47% on the idea of "financially compensating Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved." Those on both sides of the question feel strongly about it: 21% "strongly support" the step, and 32% "strongly oppose" it.

The online poll of 2,788 American adults taken Feb. 28 to March 3 by an Ipsos online panel has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.

Here's what we found.

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  • There's a national consensus on the principle of equality.

More than 9 of 10 Americans say all people deserve an equal opportunity to succeed, no matter their race or ethnicity.

That includes 92% of whites, 86% of Blacks, 85% of Latinos and 93% of Asian Americans. The consensus crosses lines of political party, age and education.

  • But there are disagreements about whether racism persists today.

Nearly two-thirds, 63%, say racism makes it more difficult for people of color to succeed in America. But race itself is a divide on those assessments.

Overall, 80% of Black respondents and 73% of Asian Americans and of Hispanics agree that racism makes it harder to succeed. Most white respondents agree, but the majority is lower, at 56%. Though an overwhelming 82% of Democrats see racism as a hurdle to equality, Republicans are divided 45%-49%.

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What's more, 61% of Republicans say efforts to combat racism are making life for more difficult for white Americans, as do nearly half of white respondents, 47%.

Among Black respondents, only 33% hold that view.

  • Are we too quick to make accusations of racism?

Another point of consensus: Across partisan and racial lines, Americans say people are too quick to accuse others of racism.

That includes 3 of 4 Americans, or 77%, including large majorities not only of Republicans (86%) but also of Democrats (69%). Among Black respondents, 68% say people are too quick to charge racism; so do 79% of white respondents.

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  • So what should be done?

Two-thirds of those surveyed, 65%, say overcoming racism requires changes not only in individual attitudes but also in laws and institutions.

There is broad support for expanding access to colleges and universities for Black, Latino, Asian and Native Americans, and there is majority support for educating students in kindergarten through high school about the extent of racism that people of color face.

Hundreds participate in the National Action Network demonstration in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis' rejection of a high school African American history course, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. In a statement, Monday, April 24, 2023, the College Board announced changes will be made to the new AP African American course framework amid criticism earlier in the year that the agency bowed to political pressure and removed several topics from the framework, including Black Lives Matter, slavery reparations and queer life.

A 54% majority support financially compensating Native Americans whose ancestors' land was taken unlawfully or deceitfully from them.

The idea of reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved was more controversial.

White respondents opposed the idea by 2-1, 58%-29%, while Black respondents endorsed it by almost 5-1, 72%-15%. Sixty percent of Democrats supported it; 71% of Republicans opposed it.

There's also a divide by age. The youngest respondents, those 18 to 34 years old, were the most supportive, by 58%-31%. The oldest respondents, those 55 and older, were the most opposed, 27%-61%.

  • What's God got to do with it?

The survey explored the views of those who described themselves as largely religious (6%), as largely spiritual (18%), as neither (35%) or as both (42%).

Those who call themselves largely spiritual were consistently more likely to believe that racism harms people of color and to support steps to address it.

Those who call themselves largely religious were less likely to believe that racism has significant impact today or to support taking action to address it.

Editor's note: The Public Agenda/USA TODAY Hidden Common Ground research is supported by the Fetzer Institute.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Racial equality unites us. How to get there divides us-Poll