Study: Black pessimism worst since 1980s

Income gap hasn't narrowed
Moreover, the income gap between black and white families has grown, according to a new study being released Tuesday that tracked the incomes of some 2,300 families for more than 30 years. Incomes have increased among both black and white families in the past three decades — mainly because more women are in the work force. But the increase was greater among whites, according to the study conducted by the Pew Charitable Trust’s Economic Mobility Project, which is separate from the Pew Research Center.

Among black men, incomes have declined in the past three decades, when adjusted for inflation. They were offset only by gains among black women.

In the Jena Six case, some black leaders said that only charging the black teens was questionable since the beating followed a number of racially charged incidents in which white students hung nooses on a school campus. Many poor and black people also faulted the Bush administration for its response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Pew poll involved telephone interviews with 3,086 people in the continental United States, conducted in September and October. The margin of sampling error was 2.5 percentage points for the total sample, slightly larger for whites, blacks and Hispanics.

Other results
Among the findings:

• By a ratio of 2 to 1, blacks say the values of poor and middle-class blacks have grown more different over the past decade (61 percent to 31 percent). Most blacks, 54 percent, say the values of blacks and whites have grown more alike during the same period.
• Most blacks believe racial discrimination is pervasive when applying for a job (67 percent), renting an apartment or buying a house (65 percent), eating at restaurants and shopping (50 percent) or applying to a college or university (43 percent). That’s compared with whites who, by majorities of 2-to-1 or more, said blacks rarely face bias in such situations.
• While saying prejudice is widespread, blacks were less likely to believe discrimination is the main reason they cannot get ahead. Fifty-three percent of blacks said they are mainly responsible for their situation, compared with 30 percent who blame it on racial discrimination. As recently as the mid-1990s, black opinion on this question tilted in the opposite direction.
• Blacks are twice as likely as whites to view the death penalty as being applied in an unfair manner. On the other hand, a majority of blacks expressed confidence in police — 55 percent say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in police to enforce the law, compared with 49 percent who said this in 1995.
• Roughly eight in 10 whites, or 82 percent, say they have a favorable impression of blacks. A similar percentage of blacks, or 80 percent, hold positive views of whites; this is virtually unchanged from nearly two decades ago.

Terence Pell, president of the conservative group Center for Individual Rights, said the Pew findings suggest racial preference policies aren’t necessary, noting there are growing divisions among poor and middle-class blacks themselves. His organization is pushing for elimination of affirmative action at colleges and universities.

“The use of racial preferences in admissions has become a sacred cow,” said Pell. “In truth, these policies have not been that effective.”

More from msnbc.com First Read: Around the world in eight days Field Notes: Inside one of America's largest warships Vicarious thrill: He wants her to be hit on Stimulus tracker: See where millions of dollars went Any stimulus projects making waves in your area? On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM RACE & ETHNICITY

Race & ethnicity Section Front

Public gets peek into 'Little Rock Nine' safe home theGrio: Black soldiers continue to fight for country and equality theGrio: Sosa's new skin reflects ugly mentality Utah girl’s pierced nose brings suspension La. justice quits after interracial  flap NYT: Is N.Y. marathon winner American enough? Race & ethnicity Section Front   Add Race & ethnicity headlines to your news reader: