This poll by Reuters has a very interesting results on race relations in this country.
(Reuters) – About 40 percent of white Americans and about 25 percent of non-white Americans are surrounded exclusively by friends of their own race, according to an ongoing Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The figures highlight how segregated the United States remains in the wake of a debate on race sparked by last month’s acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of unarmed black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. President Barack Obama weighed in after the verdict, calling for Americans to do some “soul searching” on whether they harbor racial prejudice.
There are regions and groups where mixing with people of other races is more common, especially in the Hispanic community where only a tenth do not have friends of a different race. About half of Hispanics who have a spouse or partner are in a relationship with non-Hispanics, compared to one tenth of whites and blacks in relationships.
Looking at a broader circle of acquaintances to include coworkers as well as friends and relatives, 30 percent of Americans are not mixing with others of a different race, the poll showed.
The finding that 1/2 of Hispanics are married or in relationships with with non Hispanics does not shock me at all. All of my Hispanic freinds (male and female) are married to or dating Non Hispanics. Italians (cultural/ethnic cousins), Greeks, East Europeans, Irish, Jews and Arab Christians tend to be the groups Hispanics intermarry with the most. Contrary to what Progressives, La Raza and some Conservatives claim, Hispanic is NOT a race, so there is not stigma to marrying non Hispanics.
As to the other findings about many Americans not having friends of other races, I believe that is due to where you live and not racism. Sadly the spin on this poll will be that a huge amount of Americans are racists. That is not what this poll’s results are showing.
There will always be racism and bigoty becasue that is human nature. What is important is that there are no laws discriminating due to a persons race.
Tags: Rce Relations, Reuters/Ipsos poll
