Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Race Is Central to Identity for Black Americans and Affects How They Connect With Each Other
Majority of Black adults say their ancestors were enslaved, but one-third are unsure
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- Race Is Central to Identity for Black Americans and Affects How They Connect With Each Other
- Most Black adults say being Black is very important to how they see themselves
- Non-Hispanic Black adults most likely to say being Black is extremely or very important to how they see themselves
- About half of Black adults say their fates are strongly linked with other Black people in the U.S.
- Black Americans who say being Black is important to them are more likely to feel connected to other Black people
- Black adults who say being Black is important to them are more likely to learn about their ancestors from relatives
- Younger Black adults less likely than their elders to feel informed about U.S. Black history
- Black Democrats more likely than Republicans to say what happens to other Black people in the U.S. will affect their own lives
- Half of Black adults say where they currently live is an important part of their identity
- Most Black adults say their racial background and ancestry are extremely or very important to how they see themselves
- With few differences, a majority of Black adults say their ancestry is extremely or very important to them
- Majorities of Black adults say their gender and sexuality are very important to them
- Black women are more likely than Black men to say their gender is very important to them
- The importance of being Black affects how much Black adults say they have in common with Black immigrants
- Few differences by education, income or party in how much Black adults say they have in common with foreign-born Black people
- About one-in-three Black adults say they have everything or most things in common with Black people who are poor
- Black adults with lower incomes more likely than those with higher incomes to say they have much in common with Black people who are poor
- Few differences among Black adults about commonality with Black people who identify as LGBTQ
- Black Americans who say being Black is important to them are more likely to feel commonality with Black people who are LGBTQ
- About half of Black adults say that most things that happen to Black people in the U.S. affect their own lives
- Black Democrats are more likely than Black Republicans to express linked fate with Black people in the U.S.
- One-in-three Black adults have used multiple methods to research their family history
- Black adults most likely to learn about their ancestors from speaking to family
- Black adults with bachelor’s degrees more likely to seek information about their family history
- Majority of Black adults say their ancestors were enslaved, but one-third are unsure
- Black adults differ by education and income in knowing if their ancestors were enslaved
- Black adults with higher incomes or bachelor’s degrees more likely to say they are informed about U.S. Black
- About half of Black adults say they are extremely or very informed about Black history in the U.S.
- Black adults most likely to learn about U.S. Black history from family and friends
- Half of Black Americans say that where they live is important to their personal identity
- Black women are more likely than Black men to say that where they live is important to their personal identity
- About four-in-ten Black Americans say they live in urban or suburban areas
- About one-in-five Black Americans say they live in a rural area
- About four-in-ten Black Americans rate their community as excellent or very good
- Black adults with college degrees or higher incomes more likely to rate their community as an excellent or very good as a place to live
- Black adults name violence, economic issues and housing as top three issues in their communities
- Top five community issues for Black adults by racial and ethnic group
- Roughly half of Black adults who named an issue say local community leaders should address that issue
- American Trends Panel recruitment surveys
- Invitation and reminder dates
- Weighting dimensions
- Unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling
- Final dispositions
- Cumulative response rate