WASHINGTON -- Most young Americans are comfortable socializing with people of different races, but many are comfortable with racial groups being separate if everyone has equal opportunities, according to results of a national survey on the attitudes of young blacks and whites released yesterday.
More than 72 percent of those who responded to the survey -- conducted by Zogby International for Hamilton College in New York -- said it was likely they would date someone of a different race.
On average, the group of 18- to 29-year-olds who were polled felt campus diversity was as important to the quality of a college as high test scores and grades in college admissions.
But they expressed ambivalence on how to achieve racial integration. Asked whether the federal government is responsible for improving the social and economic position of blacks, and whether colleges should take steps to ensure racial diversity among students, those polled were evenly split.
Most felt achieving racial equality was the responsibility of individuals, not the government. (On a scale of one to seven, with seven indicating individuals are responsible for racial equality and one indicating the government is responsible, the average score was 5.3.)
"There are signs that the wall of social barriers may finally be breaking down," John Zogby of New York-based Zogby International said at a news conference here yesterday. "But there is sobering news. The majority describe race relations as `fair' or `poor.' Race still does matter in the social lives of young people."
The national survey, conducted by telephone, polled 1,001 randomly selected blacks and whites last spring; 109 blacks and 892 whites were polled. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.2 percent for the total group and plus or minus 9 percent for blacks.
Although the survey asked a few questions about "racial minorities" and women, most questions related to black-white relations because "that is the most troubling racial divide in the country, and it serves as a template for other groups," said Phil Klinkner, who teaches about racial issues at Hamilton College and who, with 10 undergraduate students, designed the survey.
Zogby said the results, though sometimes disturbing, indicated much to be hopeful about. He said past studies on racial attitudes have shown most people did not live or socialize with people of other races. That is not so with most of today's young adults.
