Table 5.4A, Explanations for inequality (black respondents).

Question Wording and Notes:

Inequality due to Discrimination (NORC): "On the average, African Americans have worse jobs, income and housing than white people. Do you think these differences are ... mainly due to discrimination?"

1. Yes
2. No

Inequality due to Less Ability (NORC): "Do you think these differences are ... because most African American have less in-born ability to learn?"

1. Yes
2. No

Inequality due to No Chance for Education (NORC): "Do you think these differences are ... because most African Americans don't have the chance for education to rise out of poverty?"

1. Yes
2. No

Blacks Should Try Harder (ISR): "Now looking at the respondent booklet for your choices, here are several more statements. It's really just a matter of some people not trying hard enough; if blacks would only try harder they could be just as well off as whites." Results are presented in (parentheses) because the sample size was below 100 cases--in 2000, 62 black respondents answered this question.

1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly

No Special Favors (ISR): (Same introduction as Blacks Should Try Harder) "Irish, Italians and Jewish and many other minorities overcame prejudice and worked they way up. Blacks should do the same without any special favors." Results for 2000 are presented in (parentheses) because the sample size was below 100 cases--in 2000, 62 black respondents answered this question. Data for 1998 were collected by both telephone and face-to-face interviews.

1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly

Generations of Slavery (ISR): (Same introduction as Blacks Should Try Harder) "Generations of slavery and discrimination have created conditions that make it difficult for blacks to work their way out of the lower class." Results are presented in (parentheses) because the sample size was below 100 cases--in 2000, 62 black respondents answered this question.

1. Agree strongly
2. Agree somewhat
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree somewhat
5. Disagree strongly