Whites Oppose Even Peaceful Protests Against Racism

These charts were made using information in the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between September 24th and 26th of a random national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,254 registered voters), with a margin of error of 3 points.

The good thing is that a huge majority of Americans recognize that race relations are not good right now in this country (by a 38 point margin) -- and they see racism as a big problem for the country (by a whopping 60 point margin). That poses the question -- why don't we do something to solve that problem?

Why aren't people of both genders, all colors, and all political persuasions demonstrating for something to be done? Why aren't they demanding that the government insure equal treatment is assured for minorities in our institutions (police, courts, schools, workplaces, etc.). Why don't Americans follow their beliefs up with actions?

The sad fact is that recognizing a problem doesn't mean you want the problem solved. Too many whites, while recognizing the problem, don't want to think about it (or take action to solve it). Too many are racist, or are afraid of losing their white privilege (and having to compete on an even basis with others).

Note in the bottom chart above, about 54% of whites oppose the non-violent demonstrations by NFL players, while only 32% support them. Those are shameful percentages. It makes me think that any kind of demonstrations for equal justice by minorities would be opposed by many whites -- and that's a big reason why racism continues to be a problem in this country.

The following is just part of an excellent article on this subject (whites opposing minority demonstrations) by Steve Chapman in The Chicago Tribune. He writes:

If you don’t like how Black Lives Matter pursues its agenda, you should welcome the NFL players’ approach. It’s silent; it’s not disruptive; and it’s entirely nonviolent. It doesn’t block traffic, occupy police or frighten bystanders.

Critics say it’s disrespectful to the flag, but no flags are harmed — and it could be taken as a form of respect for the flag to mutely signal your belief that the ideals it represents are not being realized.

That the display evokes so much fury and disgust among whites, from the president on down, confirms what was evident 50 years ago. The problem is not how blacks raise their complaints about American society; it’s that they raise them. . . .

Every time unrest erupts in black communities in response to some perceived injustice, finger-wagging whites wonder why blacks can’t express their dissent in an orderly, law-abiding way. But every time African-Americans protest peacefully, the same whites object to the message, the tactics, the purpose or the slogans.

Unsympathetic whites often ask why blacks are so unwilling to acknowledge progress, to express gratitude for living in a free country and to focus on the problems in their own communities. But unsympathetic whites asked the same questions back in the 1960s. Many whites have always been in a hurry for African-Americans to stop griping about discrimination and get over it.

Detractors demand to know how such highly paid athletes have the nerve to question a country that has rewarded them so richly. They could ask the same question about Donald Trump — who owes his wealth to a nation that his inaugural address depicted in nightmarish terms.

Trump can insulate himself from the dangers he sees. But these players are as much at risk from bad cops as other black men. A GenForward poll last year found that only 26 percent of young adult African-Americans trust police to do the right thing, compared with 73 percent of their white peers. Small wonder that Colin Kaepernick and other black athletes want to draw attention to what they regard as a mortal danger.

Are there better ways for them to make their point? Maybe so. But it wouldn’t make much difference. To many whites, the only good black protest is no black protest.