Essay 4836

From The Washington Post…

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Survey Finds Friction Among Minority Groups
Despite Stereotypes and Distrust, Poll Shows Shared Values and Hope for Closing Rifts

By Pamela Constable, Washington Post Staff Writer

Relations among African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans are fraught with tension and negative stereotypes, but the three groups share core values and a desire to get along better, according to a poll released yesterday by the nonprofit group New America Media.

The survey found that many members of the three groups feel more comfortable doing business with whites than with members of the other groups and that an overwhelming majority of each group views racial tension as a “very important problem.”

It also found that immigrants are generally much more optimistic about achieving the American dream than are African Americans and that far fewer African Americans than Asians or Hispanics think that every American has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Underscoring what the survey’s leaders called “unfair and ugly stereotypes” among ethnic and minority groups, more than 40 percent of Hispanics and Asians said they are “generally afraid” of African Americans and associated them with crime.

A similar proportion of Hispanics and African Americans said most Asian business owners “do not treat us with respect,” and one-third of Asians and half of African Americans said Latin American immigrants are taking away jobs and other benefits from the black community.

On the other hand, the telephone poll of 1,105 people in all 50 states, evenly divided among the three groups, found that they have a great deal in common, including strong feelings of patriotism and religious belief. Most significantly, more than 85 percent of responders said they should put aside their differences and work together to help their communities.

Sergio Bendixen, who presented the poll results at the National Press Club, said that the fact that all three groups live in relative isolation has contributed to the tensions and stereotypes and that more interaction would do much to reduce the problem.

“If you share an afternoon of baseball and a barbecue, you are less likely to be afraid of people or think they came to steal your job,” Bendixen said. He said the issue of interethnic tensions is something “everyone knows about but everyone wants to sweep under the rug.”

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