CBS Poll: Teens See Less Racism

Members of the Class of 2000 hold a much different view than adults about race relations in the United States, according to the latest CBS News poll, conducted for the ongoing Class of 2000 project.

By almost two to one, they describe race relations in the U.S. as good. These high school juniors also are three times more likely to think race relations will get better, not worse, over the next four years.

However, more than half think there will always be a lot of racial prejudice and discrimination in America. In fact, more than a quarter of teens admit that they themselves have made racist remarks.

U.S. RACE RELATIONS

Members of the Class of 2000 describe race relations in the United States as good, not bad, by 62 percent to 33 percent. An even larger number - 76 percent -- say race relations in their own communities are good.

Adults have been almost as pessimistic as teens are optimistic. In June 1997, more than half of adults nationally described race relations in the U.S. as bad.

Not only is there a striking difference between 11th-graders and adults on their overall outlooks on race relations, but there are virtually no racial differences on questions about race among teens. This is not the case among adults, where African-Americans and whites rarely see eye-to-eye. In general, African-American adults are much more critical than white adults on racial questions.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

While students are more likely to think race relations will get better instead of worse over the next four years, a majority holds little hope that prejudice and discrimination will be completely eliminated in the U.S.

While 34 percent of those students polled think race relations will get better over the next four years, 11 percent think it will probably get worse. A total of 54 percent think things will stay the same.

However, when asked if there will always be a lot of prejudice in America, more than half say yes, while 42 percent think there is real hope of ending it in the long run. Teens and adults share the same opinions on this question.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Most students have a positive view of affirmative action. Of those polled, 64 percent say it is necessary to have laws to protect racial minorities from discrimination in hiring and promotion, while 72 percent think government affirmative action programs in hiring, promotion, and college admissions should be continued, not eliminated. By contrast, adults are less supportive of continuing such affirmative action programs.

INTERACTION WITH DIFFERENT RACES

Knowing people of different races is common to most 11th-graders. When it comes to friendship and dating, most members of the Class of 2000 say they have personally crossed racial boundaries or are willing to do so.

Of those polled, 69 percent of whites an 80 percent of blacks say they have a close friend of another race. More than a third say they've already dated interracially, and another 46 percent say they'd be willing to do so.

Only 17 percent of teens say they would not go on a date with someone of a different race, and only one in 10 reports their parents are against interracial dating. Minority students date across racial boundaries more than whites do.

RACE ISSUES AT SCHOOL

Racism is mentioned by only 1 percent of juniors as the most important problem facing the Class of 2000. In fact, 76 percent describe race relations as good in their high schools.

Students in predominantly white schools, as well as those in mixed race or all-black schools, share the same positive views of high school race relations.

But that doesn't mean racism is nonexistent. While more than half say hardly any or no students in their school are prejudiced against African-Americans, 10 percent say a lot of students in their school are, and 36 percent say some students are prejudiced. White, black and Hispanic teens see prejudice in their schools pretty much the same way.

NAME CALLING

Even given their racially tolerant attitudes and behaviors, more than a quarter of Class of 2000 members admit they've personally made racist remarks. While teens of different races are equally likely to say they've made such remarks, there is a significant gender difference in this behavior. Boys are much more likely to say they've made such remarks than girls are.

Almost a third report they've heard their parents make racist remarks as well. Not surprisingly, those who have parents who do this are much more likely to admit they say racist things than other teens. Of those who report that their parents have made racist remarks, 52 percent say they themselves have, too.