Public Policy Polling released some more polling data on interracial marriage.

[randomness]

They polled the question in Georgia, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

---

Here's the data by state and political affiliation to the question, "Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?":

Georgia (790 voters):
Legal: 62%
Illegal: 22%
Not sure: 15%

Georgia Democrat:
Legal: 67%
Illegal: 20%
Not sure: 13%

Georgia Republican:
Legal: 52%
Illegal: 29%
Not sure: 19%

Georgia Independent/Other:
Legal: 74%
Illegal: 13%
Not sure: 13%

---

North Carolina (507 voters):
Legal: 68%
Illegal: 20%
Not sure: 12%

North Carolina Democrat
Legal: 74%
Illegal: 15%
Not sure: 11%

North Carolina Republican:
Legal: 55%
Illegal: 30%
Not sure: 14%

North Carolina Independent/Other:
Legal: 80%
Illegal: 11%
Not sure: 9%

---

Mississippi (817 voters):
Legal: 54%
Illegal: 28%
Not sure: 18%

Mississippi Democrat:
Legal: 68%
Illegal: 18%
Not sure: 14%

Mississippi Republican:
Legal: 39%
Illegal: 41%
Not sure: 19%

Mississippi Independent/Other:
Legal: 56%
Illegal: 21%
Not sure: 22%

---

Another noteworthy result is that when broken down by age (18-29, 30-45, 46-65, over 65), more people in the 18 to 29 group thought interracial marriage should be illegal than any other group except those over 65. This was true in each state. (GA: 28%, NC: 26%, MS: 36%). In each state, more 18-29s believed that interracial marriage should be illegal than the sample of all ages.

PPP has asked for suggestions for national poll questions; I suggested they ask this question nationwide.

PPP's press release, with all the questions and crosstabs.

Comments

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

That they still feel that way in this day and age, is rather scary...

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

For the 18-29s it's more like "again" than "still"...

[bloodstones.livejournal.com]

Seriously? Who are these people and what bloody century do they think they're living in? I'm trying to think of some more intelligent commentary to add, but I keep coming back to 'and why can't I set them on fire?' instead. That's not helpful.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

As you can imagine, my emotions are rather complicated right now.

[st-rev.livejournal.com]

I am really curious to see what the breakdown is by race.

[st-rev.livejournal.com]

It's also awfully strange that 'very liberal' Georgians were about as opposed to interracial marriage as 'very conservative' Georgians.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

It's there in the pdf. In each state the percentage in favor of making interracial marriage illegal is higher among whites than any of the other races.

[donnad.livejournal.com]

I was going to say that that is pretty scary, but in reality, it's pretty sad. Racism is learned and it goes back generations.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Well, racism seems to be universal in all cultures, but how "race" is defined and which ones to hate are learned...

*facepalm*

[rmd.livejournal.com]

DEAR RACIST WHITE PEOPLE: YOU ARE MAKING ME LOOK BAD BY ASSOCIATION. PLEASE BE A CREDIT TO YOUR RACE AND STOP THAT SHIT RIGHT THE FUCK NOW.

Re: *facepalm*

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Word.

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

I find the 18-29 data interesting, because they are the people getting married.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

interesting. i would love to see a breakdown by self-defined race.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

It's in the pdf. In each state the percentage in favor of making interracial marriage illegal is higher among whites than any of the other races.

They offer "white", "African-American", and "other" as options.

[karakara98.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am in favor of repeating this on a nationwide basis. I think the answers would be surprisingly consistent. As long as we persist in believing that racism is only a problem in "the South" the less well we'll be able to solve the problems that racism causes. Also, the more "the South" is marginalized as racist, the more polarized our nation will be and the less we'll be able to solve other national problems.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Specialized racism issues exist all over the country, and this isn't only the Eastern South's problem, nor is it only an Arizona problem, etc etc etc. Heck, Boston has been trying to show African-American Organizations that it's not scary to hold conferences in Boston and that race relations really have been improving-- and I believe there has been improvement, but I understand why some orgs feel very cautious about seeking conference venues in Boston.

[allyphoe.livejournal.com]

My dad's response: "They probably just think it's a bad idea." Is it just me, or was there an implied "Oh, they aren't racist," prefacing that comment?

Me, glancing at oblivious interracial Alex sitting on the couch: Keep your mouth shut, you idiot.
Him: Oh, I'm sorry.
Me: No, you aren't. That's why you need to keep your mouth shut.

Gah.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

It is *so* not just you.

[flit.livejournal.com]

I should know better because I've seen this crap up close and in person in supposedly liberal California, but a lot of that was when I was a kid and I keep hoping that it would be better by NOW.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

"more people in the 18 to 29 group thought interracial marriage should be illegal than any other group except those over 65"

Because people are getting less racist over time, right? *sigh*

Thank you for posting this, depressing though it is.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Holy crap.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

You do wonder, given that the "not sure" category is over 10% in almost all cases. I mean, how can you be "not sure" about something so simple?

I did read one analysis that noted that trying to figure out the fraction of gays in the population was complicated by the large fraction of people who don't know what "heterosexual" means, so it's hard to survey people on the subject.

[orichalcum.livejournal.com]

Whenever I get depressed by things like this, I go back to this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3964714398/

It gives me a combination of hope and satisfaction.

[orichalcum.livejournal.com]

Or this one, which is almost better: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barack_Obama_with_his_niece_Savita_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg

[jendaviswilson.livejournal.com]

Well, that sheds light on why the "gay marriage is today's interracial marriage" argument doesn't seem to work.

[bedfull-o-books.livejournal.com]

Word.

[julianyap.livejournal.com]

What's really surprising to me is how anti-interracial marriage the 18-29 group is.

I find the whole concept of this poll highly offensive.

[fin9901.livejournal.com]

If you don't understand why, then imagine if I commissioned a poll of California, Illinois, and Massachusetts asking if the human race should be wiped out for the good of the planet. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the percentage of yes answers from Democrats and liberals would be higher than in the other groups. Would that prove anything? Of course not, just like this poll doesn't prove anything.

Interracial marriage is an issue that has been settled for a long time and there's absolutely no political movement whatsoever to change that. Polling on this is just stirring the pot.

Re: I find the whole concept of this poll highly offensive.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I'm in an interracial couple, and I want to know.

I'm particularly interested in having California, Illinois, and Massachusetts polled on this question. (Well, Illinois not so much, but New York, definitely, and Washington State.)

I want to know how many people think what I'm doing should be illegal.

So, go be offended. I'd commission the poll if I had the money.

[ardreyunun.livejournal.com]

Хорошо! Все бы так писали :) (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)

[matronnayv.livejournal.com]

Действительно интересно! (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)