The symposium dealt with preventing suicide in the elderly population, among teenagers, and the mentally ill. And the rest of America agrees. Persistent remnants of racial discrimination against blacks are among the findings in a new national survey on racial, ethnic, religious and social attitudes. Hispanics were next with 76 percent of those questioned feeling the group faced at least some discrimination. Women and American Indians were next with 67 percent of those questioned believing they faced at least some discrimination.
Blacks say there is plenty of truth behind the perceptions of unequal treatment.
Whether it was at the corner grocery store, at work or in a local eatery, black Americans said they experienced discrimination more in the last 30 days than any other racial or ethnic group. Only 13 percent of whites said they were discriminated against in the past month, compared to 42 percent of blacks. One solution to helping American bridge its racial divide would be open, honest and what might be painful conversations across racial, political, ethnic and gender lines, Cloud said. When the question was taken beyond racial and ethnic groups, gay Americans are perceived to be the victims of discrimination in greater numbers than blacks, Jews or immigrants. Blacks were thought to be greatly victimized by 34 percent of those questioned, followed by the poor with 32 percent and people on welfare by 27 percent.