The vast majority of Americans agree on the principle of racial equality, yet a strong partisan divide remains about how to address racism and its impacts, a report from Public Agenda finds.

Supported by the Fetzer Institute and based on a national survey of 2,788 adult Americans, the report, American Perspectives on Racism and Racial Justice: A Hidden Common Ground Report (33 pages, PDF), found that while 91 percent of respondents indicated that all people deserve an equal opportunity to succeed, no matter their race or ethnicity, less than half of Republicans believe that racism is a serious problem at both the individual and systemic levels (compared with more than 80 percent of Democrats). In addition, 82 percent of Democrats surveyed said they believe that racism makes it more difficult for people of color to succeed (vs. 45 percent of Republicans), and among Republicans, 61 percent believe that efforts to combat racism are making life more difficult for white Americans (vs. 31 percent of Democrats).

According to the report, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents said they believe that overcoming racism requires changes in laws and institutions as well as in individual attitudes; however, respondents were less supportive overall of reparations (41 percent) compared to other policies, such as expanding higher education access for students of color (68 percent), and educating K-12 students about the racism that people of color face (61 percent). Support for reparations also varied widely across partisan and racial lines. For example, 60 percent of Democrats supported reparations, compared with 40 percent of independents and 21 percent of Republicans; and 72 percent of Black Americans were in favor, compared with 55 percent of both Asian and Latinx Americans, and 29 percent of white Americans.

The report also found that 77 percent of respondents indicated that people are too quick to accuse others of racism, including 79 percent of white Americans, 77 percent of Latinx Americans, 76 percent of Asian Americans, and 68 percent of Black Americans. The report also found that seven in 10 respondents support both religious and spiritual leaders and communities speaking up against racism, and that 50 percent believe that religious leaders and communities have roles to play in overcoming racism.

“The concept of equal opportunity is deeply rooted in our history and has been a rallying cry for America’s great liberation movements, so it’s significant that it remains a shared value,” said Public Agenda president Andrew Seligsohn. “At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that there are significant differences among Americans in how they understand what the principle means in practice. Nonetheless, this report shows that identities that Americans share—notably religious and spiritual identities—can be the foundation for finding common ground on the impact of racism and how to address it.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/MesquitaFMS)