ABBA NETWORK

Following the first year of Barack Obama in power, the U.S. black population has gained pride and self esteem as well as in the preceding 25 years. That is clear at least from a survey of the prestigious Pew Research Center, under which African Americans no longer see themselves or are viewed by others as the most discriminated ethnic group in North America.

That “honor” is now Hispanics.
Some 23 percent of 2884 adults (including 812 blacks) surveyed by the Pew Research Center, between 28 October and 30 November 2009, believe that Hispanics are the most discriminated group in America. A 18 percent that are still considered black. A curious fact is that 45 percent of all Americans surveyed, and 55 percent of blacks believe that no race or ethnicity is as discriminated as homosexuals.

Positive developments in the vision of black people and their situation are mostly among the black population itself, with which the present economic crisis has been primed. Even in these circumstances are becoming more blacks who think they can fend for themselves in the U.S. and tend to look blurred the barriers with other races.

Not that everything is no longer black and white to turn pink. Forty years after the great wave of struggle against racial segregation and civil rights, 8 in 10 blacks are generally less satisfied with their lives than whites and believe that further changes are needed to achieve full or least reasonably equal. But 39 percent believe that their life is better than five years ago, only 20 percent believed that in 2007 - and 53 percent believe their lives will be even better in the future, compared with 10 percent who believe that will be worse. In 2007 only 44 percent expected future improvements for blacks, while 21 percent expected that any further deterioration.

Some 54 percent of blacks, compared with 32 percent of whites believe race relations have improved with Obama. These figures are very positive but not as satisfactory as those were the day after the election when they said that 74 percent of blacks and 48 percent of whites.

Values similar
But perhaps the most telling indicator is that more and more blacks tend to see a convergence of their values and way of life with those of whites. That’s the opinion of today 6 of every 10 blacks. This represents an increase of almost 20 points since 2007.

With the fall of racial barriers come doubts about identity. What is being targeted and what is being black in today’s society, so mixed that the president himself is a mestizo? About 55 percent of blacks surveyed believe Obama black, whereas 34 percent is of mixed race. Among whites the proportion is reversed: 53 percent considered of mixed race and 24 percent black.