Thread: Pew recently published its findings into the American public's views on how big a problem racism is in society.pic.twitter.com/Ob0x7SbkHy
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
Since 2009, the first year of Obama’s presidency, growing numbers of both Democrats and Republicans have seen racism as a big problem.
But since 2015, there has been polarization (increase in perceptions of racism as a big problem has been almost entirely among Democrats)pic.twitter.com/8Vk9x1FrSe
More people of all races now consider racism a big problem, but blacks are still likelier than whites to view racism this way (81% vs 52%).
Just over half of Americans say they support the Black Lives Matter movement, while a third oppose the movement.pic.twitter.com/wdxWLLUfNy
Curiously, but unsurprisingly, partisanship determines views on Black Lives Matter more than race.
So what does this mean? The left will think it signifies a surge in racism. The right will think it signifies a surge in racecardism.
Racism does appear to have increased. E.g. Twitter followers of Nazi/WN accounts skyrocketed 600% between 2012-2016 https://cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Nazis%2520v.%2520ISIS%2520Final_0.pdf …
But racecardism also seems to have increased, in the left's focus on identity politics, deepening social divisions? https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-no-longer-the-economy-stupid-our-identity-politics-are-polarizing-us/2016/09/15/7bb61f9e-7b75-11e6-bd86-b7bbd53d2b5d_story.html …
The likeliest explanation: there has been a rise in both racism and racecardism due to the left and right's constant bickering about race.
Their ideological brinkmanship, which has polarised much of our politics, may in fact be also responsible for polarising our views on race.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.