Americans' optimism about blacks' equal opportunities wanes: Gallup

Sixty-four percent of Americans believe blacks have the same chance as whites to get a job, but the percentage holding that view has declined to the lowest point since 1995, Gallup found in a poll released Friday.

The only time Americans were less optimistic about blacks' ability to secure jobs was during the 1960s era in which blacks were fighting for civil rights in southern United States, when roughly four in 10 thought blacks and whites had equal job opportunities, Gallup said.

Americans' beliefs that blacks enjoy equality of opportunity relative to housing and education have also declined. Currently, 70 percent say blacks have the same chance as whites to get any housing they can afford, the lowest since 1989 and down from a peak of 83 percent in 1997, Gallup found.

The 71 percent of Americans who believe black children have the same chance as whites of obtaining a good education is the lowest in Gallup's trend, including in 1962, less than a decade after the Supreme Court ruled to allow black children to study in white schools in the Southern United States.

The June 7-July 1 Gallup poll was conducted just before recent racial incidents in Minneapolis, Baton Rouge and Dallas, in which both white police and black men were killed.

One reason for the declines could be the attention given to racial and economic inequality by the candidates in this year's presidential campaign.

Racial incidents involving police in recent years, and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement, could also be a factor, though declines in perceptions of black housing and educational opportunities were mostly evident this year.

Whites and blacks have different perceptions of equality of opportunity for members of racial groups.

Whereas roughly seven in 10 whites believe that blacks and whites have the same opportunities to get a job, a good education and any housing they can afford, far fewer blacks agree.

Slightly less than half of blacks believe that blacks and whites have the same chance to get a good education. Even fewer blacks, 32 percent, say blacks and whites have equal job opportunities, Gallup found.

The recent surge of high-profile racial incidents are likely magnified in the midst of a presidential campaign as the candidates react to the events and attempt to offer solutions to address the issues they raise, Gallup said.

U.S. President Barack Obama's election as the nation's first black president was a landmark achievement for blacks, but seven years into his presidency, the issues of race remain complex and are beyond what political leadership alone can change, Gallup added. Enditem