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5. America's shifting views on racial discrimination

Data: Pew Research Center; Note: Excluding "both," "don't know," and "refused" responses; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

A growing number of Americans — 41%— believe "racial discrimination is the main reason black people can't get ahead" in society, per a Pew Research report published this fall. This is up from 32% in 1994.

When presented with the statement: "Racial discrimination is the main reason why many black people can't get ahead these days," the participants who agreed were:

  • 39% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans, in 1994.
  • 64% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans, in 2017.