66% Say History Lessons Fell Short On Role Of African Americans, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly 4 In 10 Have Family Or Friends They Consider Racist
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As Black History Month is currently being observed, only 27 percent of Americans say the American History they were taught in school reflected a full and accurate account of the role of African Americans in the United States, while 66 percent say what they were taught in school fell short on that, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today.
That view is shared among majorities of all but one group. Republicans are split with 47 percent saying the American History they were taught in school reflected a full and accurate account of the role of African Americans in the United States, while 46 percent say that account fell short.
"Removed from the classroom, two-thirds of Americans look back and say they were not taught enough about the struggles and the triumphs of African Americans," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
BANNING BOOKS
Nearly 8 in 10 Americans (79 percent) say efforts to ban certain books in schools and libraries in the United States are more about politics, while only 15 percent of Americans say those efforts are more about the content of the books.
RACISM
Nearly 4 in 10 Americans (38 percent) say they have family or friends they consider racist, while 60 percent say they do not have family or friends they consider racist.
There are wide differences by party identification. Democrats say 53 - 45 percent they have family or friends they consider racist, while Republicans say 72 - 27 percent and independents say 61 - 37 percent they do not have family or friends they consider racist.
"Nearly four in ten Americans acknowledge the troubling suspicion that someone they know, and perhaps even someone they love, harbors a deeply disturbing prejudice," added Malloy.
COVID-19 MANDATES
Eight in ten Americans (80 percent) think that tensions in the U.S. surrounding COVID-19 mandates, vaccines and masks have more to do with disagreements about politics, while 13 percent think they have more to do with disagreements about science.
Thinking ahead, as COVID-19 cases drop in the U.S., 34 percent expect that tensions over COVID-19 mandates, vaccines and masks will decrease; while 20 percent expect those tensions to increase; and 43 percent expect those tensions to stay about the same.
"Even as case numbers drop, Americans believe COVID will linger as a societal flashpoint, with how we handle the pandemic as individuals, remaining the source of debate, division and hard feelings," added Malloy.
THE SUPREME COURT
Americans give the Supreme Court a negative 40 - 47 percent job approval rating, with 13 percent not offering an opinion. That's compared to a September 15, 2021 Quinnipiac University Poll when Americans gave the Supreme Court a negative 37 - 49 percent job approval rating.
A majority of Americans (61 percent) say the Supreme Court is mainly motivated by politics, while 32 percent say it's mainly motivated by the law. This is unchanged from a November 19, 2021 Quinnipiac University Poll.
1,321 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from February 10th - 14th with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
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Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the United States Supreme Court is handling its job?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 40% 50% 29% 42% 44% 35% 41% 43% Disapprove 47 38 63 44 44 50 53 42 DK/NA 13 11 8 14 11 15 7 15 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 30% 43% 42% 47% 49% 36% 42% 32% 40% Disapprove 51 40 50 46 41 50 46 57 45 DK/NA 19 17 8 7 9 14 12 11 15 -
Question 17. In general, do you think that the Supreme Court is mainly motivated by politics or mainly motivated by the law?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Mainly politics 61% 50% 75% 60% 57% 65% 55% 57% Mainly law 32 44 22 34 36 28 39 36 DK/NA 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Mainly politics 69% 57% 61% 58% 53% 60% 57% 77% 64% Mainly law 22 37 34 38 41 33 37 13 31 DK/NA 9 6 5 4 6 7 6 10 5 -
Question 27. As you may know, efforts to ban certain books in schools and libraries are spreading in the United States. Do you think these efforts are more about the content of the books or more about politics?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Content of books 15% 23% 9% 15% 17% 13% 12% 15% Politics 79 69 88 81 77 80 84 77 DK/NA 6 8 3 4 6 7 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Content of books 12% 18% 16% 15% 18% 10% 14% 13% 15% Politics 81 74 80 79 77 82 80 82 76 DK/NA 7 8 4 6 5 8 6 5 9 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School Content of books 15% 16% Politics 76 77 DK/NA 9 7 -
Question 28. Thinking back on American History that you were taught in school, would you say that it reflected a full and accurate account of the role of African Americans in the United States or do you think that what you were taught in school fell short on that?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Full account 27% 47% 8% 29% 34% 21% 27% 36% Fell short 66 46 88 66 60 71 68 57 DK/NA 7 7 4 6 7 8 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Full account 20% 27% 32% 31% 41% 26% 33% 3% 23% Fell short 71 67 64 63 54 68 61 90 66 DK/NA 10 6 4 6 5 7 6 7 11 -
Question 29. Do you have family or friends that you consider racist, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 38% 27% 53% 37% 34% 42% 46% 35% No 60 72 45 61 65 56 52 64 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 41% 41% 44% 29% 35% 42% 39% 34% 39% No 57 58 56 69 64 56 60 63 61 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 - -
Question 30. Do you think tensions in this country surrounding COVID-19 mandates, vaccines and masks have more to do with disagreements about science or disagreements about politics?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Science 13% 14% 13% 15% 14% 13% 12% 13% Politics 80 83 82 79 79 81 84 81 DK/NA 7 3 5 6 7 6 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Science 13% 16% 16% 11% 13% 12% 13% 18% 14% Politics 78 74 80 86 82 82 82 67 79 DK/NA 9 9 5 4 5 5 5 14 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Science 14% 11% 15% 13% 15% 13% 13% Politics 78 84 80 77 79 81 82 DK/NA 8 5 5 10 6 5 6 -
Question 31. Thinking ahead, as COVID-19 cases decrease in the U.S., do you expect tensions among people over COVID-19 mandates, vaccines and masks will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Increase 20% 22% 15% 23% 19% 21% 18% 21% Decrease 34 36 34 37 40 28 38 32 Stay about the same 43 38 49 38 38 48 41 43 DK/NA 3 4 3 1 3 3 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Increase 17% 18% 22% 21% 19% 21% 20% 23% 18% Decrease 30 39 37 33 38 31 34 27 36 Stay about the same 51 39 39 44 41 44 42 46 46 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2 4 3 4 - REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Increase 23% 23% 21% 13% 20% 21% 17% Decrease 35 29 36 35 35 37 32 Stay about the same 37 46 40 50 43 40 46 DK/NA 5 2 4 2 2 2 5