The FINANCIAL — This report is part of a series titled “Discrimination in America.” The series is based on a survey conducted for National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While many surveys have explored Americans’ beliefs about discrimination, this survey asks people about their own personal experiences with discrimination.
Half or more of Black Americans report being personally discriminated against in the workplace and when interacting with police
In the context of institutional forms of discrimination, half or more of Black Americans report being personally discriminated against because they are Black when it comes to being paid equally or considered for promotion (57%), when applying for jobs (56%), or when interacting with police (50%)
“What is portrayed in the daily news about racial discrimination in America corresponds to the very real personal experiences of Black Americans today, particularly in the areas of employment, interacting with the police, and housing,” says Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who co-directed the survey.
In a separate question, 60% of Black Americans say that they or a family member have been unfairly stopped or treated by the police because they are Black, and 45% say they or a family member have been treated unfairly by the courts because they are Black
Half of Black Americans have experienced racial slurs and negative comments; Roughly four in ten have experienced violence and threats or harassment
In the context of individual or interpersonal forms of discrimination, at least half of Black Americans say they have personally experienced people using racial slurs against them (51%) or making insensitive or offensive comments about their race or ethnicity (52%)
Additionally, roughly four in ten Black Americans say they have experienced people acting afraid of them (40%) because of their race, and further that they or a family member have experienced violence (42%) or threats or non-sexual harassment (35%) because they are Black
Harvard professor David Williams on health consequences of discrimination
David Williams, PhD, MPH, the Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professor of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Professor of African and African American Studies and Sociology at Harvard University, says that it’s well documented that Black Americans generally have poorer health and die sooner than whites in America. The effects of experiencing discrimination, in both institutional and individual contexts, can accumulate over time and trigger an array of health problems, including elevated blood pressure, heart disease, and even premature aging or mortality, among others. Williams says, “This poll helps us see where we need to take action to address the problem.”
A third of Black Americans have been personally discriminated against when seeking healthcare
The poll also found that in the context of healthcare, roughly one third (32%) of Black Americans say they have been personally discriminated against because they are Black when going to a doctor or health clinic (Chart 1).
Additionally, 22% of Black Americans say they have avoided seeking medical care for themselves or a member of their family out of concern they would be discriminated against because they are Black.
Black Americans see individual prejudice as a larger problem than laws and governmental policies
Overall, 92% of Black Americans said they believe that discrimination against Black people exists in America today. Among those, nearly half (49%) say that discrimination based on individuals’ prejudice is the larger problem, while 25% say discrimination based in laws and government policies is the larger problem. Another 25% say both forms of discrimination are equally a problem.
Discussion about this post