![]() But it is critical to note that those very groups which are under attack at the moment are not retreating against the American Dream instead, they are among the most optimist and forward-looking members of the polity. There have been and will be periods of unrest, discontent, and division as the nation works to become a more inclusive and diverse country. The American experiment is quite imperfect and our nation’s history is one of regular social and demographic change around a core set of values and institutions. These data collectively serve as an important corrective to those who presume that very real problems preclude Americans from embracing an optimistic view of the country. ![]() ![]() On the other hand, the majority (61 percent) of those who say things have been getting worse believe it is happening very quickly. The overwhelming majority of Americans (90 percent) who say things are generally getting better in the US say this is happening slowly over time. Those respondents who are optimistic about how things are going in the country tend to focus on the long arc of history, while those who express pessimism are more focused on recent events. While partisan priming may be contributing to this pessimism given the results of the 2020 election, the fact of the matter is that racial differences are significant and non-White Americans express the strongest sense of optimism about the direction of the country.įinally, it is worth noting as a general matter that those who are optimistic or pessimistic about how the country has changed see this change very differently. In contrast, just 41 percent of White Americans share this feeling of optimism about the future of the country, while six in 10 (60 percent) White Americans report feeling pessimistic. A lower but significant majority of Asian Americans feel the same way at 59 percent, while 55 percent of Hispanic identifiers report an optimistic outlook. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of Black Americans report feeling at least somewhat optimistic about the country’s future. And despite obvious frustrations with a spike in violence as well as questions about representation and opportunity, Black Americans are among the most optimistic about the direction the US is headed. White respondents are appreciably more pessimistic about the future than their Black, Hispanic, and Asian counterparts. What does strongly emerge, however, are racial differences with respect to feelings about the future of the country. Breaking the data down by generation or by educational level also does not produce clear group differences. The national picture shows a fairly even split: Forty-seven percent of Americans are either very or somewhat optimistic while another 53 percent are generally somewhat or very pessimistic. Specifically, the survey asked respondents to think about the future of the United States and whether or not one is generally pessimistic or optimistic about it going forward. The data show a remarkable amount of optimism among Black and Asian Americans about the future of the nation – more so than among those who are White. Data from the American National Family Life Survey, which sampled over 5,000 Americans and was fielded in November and December of 2021, reveals something quite positive that is often not mentioned in traditional spheres and on social media. ![]() In my college seminars, my students regularly ask how various groups are managing in the country, citing the concerns related to the Black Lives Matter movement and repeated attacks on members of the Asian American community. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |