Democracy and Racial Inequality Samuel L. Myers, Jr. Roy Wilkins - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Democracy and Racial Inequality Samuel L. Myers, Jr. Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice University of Minnesota March 15, 2015

constitutional democracy a system of government based on popular sovereignty in which the structures, powers, and limits of government are set forth in a constitution

1 st Amendment vs 14 th Amendment Supreme Court unanimously reaffirms: There is no ‘hate speech’ exception to the First Amendment Mateo vs Tam 2017

14 th Amendment: Equal Protection

BUT MAJORITY BELIEFS AFFECT POLICIES TOWARD INEQUALITY

Attitudes Towards Race: General Social Survey On the average (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) have worse jobs, income, and housing than white people. Do you think these differences are . . . – Mainly due to discrimination? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) have less in-born ability to learn? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) don't have the chance for education that it takes to rise out of poverty? – Because most (Negroes/Blacks/African-Americans) just don't have the motivation or will power to pull themselves up out of poverty ?

WHAT DO WHITES BELIEVE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF RACIAL INEQUALITY?

Fact 1:  Vast majority of whites believe that racial inequality is due to the lack of will among blacks  A sizeable minority of whites believe that racial inequality is due to inborn disability among blacks

Fact #2  The vast majority of whites do not believe that the cause of racial inequality is discrimination

Differences "not" due to Discrimination: Whites Only 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Graduate College Less than College

Fact #3  There is widespread opposition to racial preferences or affirmative action among whites

Favor preferences in hiring blacks 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Black White

Opposed to Affirmative Action by Education: Whites Only 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Graduate College Less than college

Fact #4  Less well-educated whites believe that racial preferences hurt whites  But, the majority of whites, of all education levels, believe that whites are hurt by racial preferences

Whites hurt by Affirmative Action: Whites Only 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Graduate College Less than College

Implications  Will of majority affects: – Beliefs about the problem of racial inequality – Agreement about solutions to the problem of racial inequality  Constitutional Protections affect: – Ability of the majority to express their opposition to the minority and their aspirations – Ability of minority to express concerns about racism and racial discrimination

Race Neutrality: Rationalizing Remedies to Racial Inequality, Lexington Books Available from Amazon approx. June 1, 2018 THANK YOU