Veera Korhonen
Research expert covering United States data for society
Race relations in the United States - statistics & facts
Now one of the most racially diverse countries in the world, the United States has not always stood up to its constitutional heritage of ‘equality for all’. From the very beginning of American society, as European colonizers exploited land and labor from Indigenous and African populations, the idea that one can be treated unfairly based on their race, ethnicity, color, or place of origin was capitalized on. While the use of such outwardly racist practices have long been outlawed, the relations between different racial groups in the U.S. have still been defined as worrisome and worsening by many Americans, with little hope that things will get better in the future. This grim picture may reflect recent race-related conflicts in the U.S.; in the last few years, multiple police killings of unarmed Black men and women led to nationwide outrage and a global pandemic highlighted continuing inequalities as minority groups were found more likely to lose their jobs and face higher rates of death. Moreover, a recent Supreme Court decision to strike down affirmative action, the use of race-conscious admissions policies aiming to increase diversity in colleges and universities, reignited debates on whether racial equality stems from treating all races the same or if consideration should be given to the decades of discrimination, enslavement, and segregation faced by people of color.
More than 150 years after the end of slavery in the United States, the nation remains divided on whether the legacy of enslavement still affects the position of Black people in society today. Although Black Americans officially gained full citizenship and equal protection after the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, over half of surveyed Americans agreed that Black people continue to be treated less fairly than White people in dealing with the police, when applying for a loan or a mortgage, and in hiring, pay, and promotions. Despite anti-discrimination legislation enacted to protect people from facing unfair treatment in education, employment, housing, lending, public accommodations, voting, law enforcement, and police misconduct, the literature proposes that the legacy of slavery remains hidden within all these policies and practices that may seem equal but ultimately perpetuate discrimination by failing to address racial disparities.
In comparison to White Americans, Black people earn less income, even with the same educational attainment, are less likely to own a home, and have the lowest median household income out of all ethnic groups in the United States. Simultaneously, Black Americans face increased mortgage rates, a decline in life expectancy, and higher rates of fatal police shootings and incarceration, demonstrating how the legacy of slavery has made it particularly difficult for racial minorities to advance in society even when discrimination is legally prohibited. However, a 2022 survey revealed support for the belief that many minorities have overcome prejudice and worked their way up, therefore every group should do the same without any special favors, indicating that Americans may find it unfair if anyone were to receive any compensation or help as a result of their race, even if it would help equalize their position in society.
Alternatively, many scholars have suggested that education itself may be the key to overcoming racial inequalities in the United States, as teaching the history of slavery to a new generation could enable them to expose and discredit the assumptions and beliefs that upheld the practice for centuries. In addition, as studies have shown that minority groups often feel as they do not belong or are not accepted in the United States for reasons such as a lack of encountering people who look like them, teaching a more inclusive American history could help build a sense of belonging for communities of color. However, studies have shown that the nation remains divided on whether children should be taught about slavery or the history of racism at all, making it unlikely that a more inclusive education will be implemented in the near future, whether in K-12 schools or on college campuses.
Although most Americans agreed that college admissions should not consider race when deciding which students to accept, critics have warned that the end of affirmative action will only increase racial disparities since non-White students are already underrepresented in higher education. According to the evidence, however, it is still probable that new generations will continue to progress towards racial equality regardless of any existing racial tension in the country, as demonstrated by the increasing public acceptance of interracial marriages, which was led by younger Americans until almost full support was reached by each age group. Currently, 78 percent of Generation Z have already named addressing systemic racism as one of the most important issues hindering the kind of America in which they wish to live. Similarly, although the oldest members of Generation Alpha, expected to be the most diverse generation yet, are only adolescents, many of them still place importance upon ensuring that all people are treated fairly no matter what they look like.
The legacy of slavery
More than 150 years after the end of slavery in the United States, the nation remains divided on whether the legacy of enslavement still affects the position of Black people in society today. Although Black Americans officially gained full citizenship and equal protection after the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, over half of surveyed Americans agreed that Black people continue to be treated less fairly than White people in dealing with the police, when applying for a loan or a mortgage, and in hiring, pay, and promotions. Despite anti-discrimination legislation enacted to protect people from facing unfair treatment in education, employment, housing, lending, public accommodations, voting, law enforcement, and police misconduct, the literature proposes that the legacy of slavery remains hidden within all these policies and practices that may seem equal but ultimately perpetuate discrimination by failing to address racial disparities.
In comparison to White Americans, Black people earn less income, even with the same educational attainment, are less likely to own a home, and have the lowest median household income out of all ethnic groups in the United States. Simultaneously, Black Americans face increased mortgage rates, a decline in life expectancy, and higher rates of fatal police shootings and incarceration, demonstrating how the legacy of slavery has made it particularly difficult for racial minorities to advance in society even when discrimination is legally prohibited. However, a 2022 survey revealed support for the belief that many minorities have overcome prejudice and worked their way up, therefore every group should do the same without any special favors, indicating that Americans may find it unfair if anyone were to receive any compensation or help as a result of their race, even if it would help equalize their position in society.
The importance of education
Alternatively, many scholars have suggested that education itself may be the key to overcoming racial inequalities in the United States, as teaching the history of slavery to a new generation could enable them to expose and discredit the assumptions and beliefs that upheld the practice for centuries. In addition, as studies have shown that minority groups often feel as they do not belong or are not accepted in the United States for reasons such as a lack of encountering people who look like them, teaching a more inclusive American history could help build a sense of belonging for communities of color. However, studies have shown that the nation remains divided on whether children should be taught about slavery or the history of racism at all, making it unlikely that a more inclusive education will be implemented in the near future, whether in K-12 schools or on college campuses.
Although most Americans agreed that college admissions should not consider race when deciding which students to accept, critics have warned that the end of affirmative action will only increase racial disparities since non-White students are already underrepresented in higher education. According to the evidence, however, it is still probable that new generations will continue to progress towards racial equality regardless of any existing racial tension in the country, as demonstrated by the increasing public acceptance of interracial marriages, which was led by younger Americans until almost full support was reached by each age group. Currently, 78 percent of Generation Z have already named addressing systemic racism as one of the most important issues hindering the kind of America in which they wish to live. Similarly, although the oldest members of Generation Alpha, expected to be the most diverse generation yet, are only adolescents, many of them still place importance upon ensuring that all people are treated fairly no matter what they look like.
