Study on Black/African-Americans

Radio One has commissioned Yankelovich to do a study to help African-Americans feel good about themselves. The results are based on a survey of 3,400 African-American ranging in ages from 17 to 74. Among the eleven distinct groups they categorized are the “connected black teens” who are tech-savvy, optimistic and less familiar with the overt bigotry of the past; “stretched black straddlers,” who excessively worry about everything from relationships to money; and the affluent “new middle class” who are most likely to believe that challenges within black communities can best be solved by blacks.

Other findings:

• 68% of those surveyed use the Internet. By contrast, a study by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that, as of December, 70% of all Americans ages 18 and older — and 72% of non-Hispanic whites — were online.

• Blacks are nearly evenly divided about what they prefer to be called — 42% favor “black” and 44% favor “African American.”

• 88% of respondents — and 84% of teenagers — have tremendous respect for the opinions and desires of their elders.

• 24% say they had experienced bigotry personally within the past three months, and 82% believe it is “important for parents to prepare their children for prejudice.”

• Many still deeply mistrust police, courts, government and mainstream media.

• 60% say “things are getting better for me,” while more than half are positive about the future of the black community.

The State Of . . . Us. What do you think of these findings? I’m not quite sure of Catherine Hughes’s angle on this. It makes me a little skeptical when the heads of media conglomerations commission studies. Anyway, the raw data is out there for your consumption. Enjoy!