Question 1

Of the more than 200,000 people incarcerated in state prisons for drug offenses in a recent year, 45 percent were black, as opposed to 30 percent who were white.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and various reports on the U.S. prison population, a disproportionate number of those incarcerated for drug offenses are black compared to their white counterparts, reflecting systemic racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Question 2

A majority of U.S. drug-dealers are white.

Accepted Answer

According to various reports and studies, including data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the majority of individuals in the U.S. who sell drugs are white. This is in contrast to the racial disparities observed in drug-related arrests and incarcerations, where people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic individuals, are disproportionately represented.

Question 3

Addicted heroin users of color are generally criminalized and dealt with unsympathetically in the media, while addicted white opioid users are generally not criminalized and are sympathetically portrayed.

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects a widely observed phenomenon in media and societal responses to drug addiction, where there is a racial disparity in how individuals are portrayed and treated. People of color, particularly Black and Hispanic individuals, are often criminalized and portrayed negatively in the context of drug use, while white individuals are more likely to be depicted as victims of a health crisis, deserving of sympathy and support. This difference in portrayal can influence public perception and policy in ways that perpetuate racial inequalities.

Question 4

Rada and Wulfemeyer examined on-air announcers' comments of 'the player as athlete' and 'the player as person.' Of the 18 negative statements made about a player's off-field intelligence, character, or personal interest stories, all 18 were directed toward African Americans.

Accepted Answer

Rada and Wulfemeyer's study found that all 18 negative comments about off-field intelligence, character, or personal interests were directed at African American players, highlighting racial bias in sports commentary.

Question 5

Rada and Wulfemeyer examined on-air announcers' comments of 'the player as athlete' and 'the player as person.' Of the 18 negative statements made about a player's off-field intelligence, character, or personal interest stories, none were directed toward white Americans.

Accepted Answer

Rada and Wulfemeyer's study found that all 18 negative comments about a player's off-field intelligence, character, or personal interests were directed at players who were not white Americans, highlighting a racial bias in the portrayal of athletes.

Question 6

A 2017 national survey of African Americans found that half reported experiencing racist slurs.

Accepted Answer

The 2017 National Survey of African American Life found that about half of African Americans reported experiencing racial slurs, highlighting the prevalence of racism and discrimination they face.

Question 7

A 2017 national survey of African Americans found that half had reported experiencing offensive racial comments or racialized assumptions.

Accepted Answer

The 2017 survey by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that about half of African Americans reported experiencing racial slurs or people making offensive comments or assumptions about them because of their race.

Question 8

Many whites have disparaged the innovative music that has often come out of black communities, such as jazz in the early decades of the twentieth century, or rap music in recent decades.

Accepted Answer

Historically, both jazz and rap music, which originated within black communities, faced significant criticism and disparagement from many in the white community, especially during their formative years. This criticism often stemmed from racial prejudices and a lack of understanding or appreciation for the cultural significance and innovation of these music genres.

Question 9

Today, a majority of whites do not view "equality of opportunity" as the current societal reality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Today, a majority of whites do not...

Question 10

While black men and black woman experience similar levels of discrimination in many areas, black men report more mistreatment than black women in regard to racialized suspicion (52 percent versus 44 percent) and suffering policing discrimination (22 percent versus 15 percent).

Accepted Answer

Studies and surveys, such as those conducted by Pew Research Center, have shown that black men are more likely than black women to report experiences of racial discrimination, particularly in contexts of racialized suspicion and encounters with police.

Question 11

One-quarter or less of white Americans agree that black Americans today face significant racial discrimination in the institutional areas where black Americans report such discrimination.

Accepted Answer

The statement says that one-quarter or less of white Americans agree that black Americans today face significant racial discrimination in the institutional areas where black Americans report such discrimination. This means that the majority of white Americans do not believe that black Americans face significant racial discrimination in these areas.

Question 12

A recent experimental study found that a hypothetical politician who makes offensive racist comments in a tweet, but frames it as challenging "political correctness," was less likely to be criticized by the research subjects for the offensive racist comment.

Accepted Answer

The study likely reflects the phenomenon where framing offensive comments as a challenge to political correctness can reduce the perception of offensiveness among some audiences, who may prioritize free speech or anti-political correctness stances over the content of the comment itself.

Question 13

National surveys have found that a majority of Americans - including a large majority of Americans of color - feel that overt racial prejudice and hostility have not increased since the 2016 presidential election.

Accepted Answer

National surveys have indicated that a significant portion of Americans, including many Americans of color, believe that overt racial prejudice and hostility have increased since the 2016 presidential election.

Question 14

Symbolic racism refers to whites combining the notion of declining overt racism with the idea that blacks are now making illegitimate demands for societal changes.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic racism, also known as modern racism, is characterized by the belief among some white individuals that racism is no longer a significant problem and that any continuing racial inequalities are the result of Black people's own behavior and demands, rather than systemic or institutional factors. This perspective combines a denial of systemic racism with resentment towards policies or actions aimed at addressing racial disparities.

Question 15

Today, white support for the principle of school integration is well below 10 percent, while endorsement of strong government intervention to insure racial integration is far higher.

Accepted Answer

Surveys and studies generally show that a significant portion of white Americans support the principle of school integration, often at rates much higher than 10 percent. However, support for strong government intervention to insure racial integration may vary, with some expressing reservations about specific policies despite endorsing the general principle of integration.

Question 16

Most whites, including most political leaders, have been opposed to aggressive affirmative action since it was first proposed in the 1960s.

Accepted Answer

Historically, affirmative action has been a contentious issue, and many white Americans, including political leaders, have expressed opposition to more aggressive forms of affirmative action since its inception in the 1960s, often citing concerns about reverse discrimination and the meritocracy principle.

Question 17

Recent surveys reveal that more than half of whites believe that government and private agencies should be making extensive remedial and reparative efforts on behalf of Americans of color.

Accepted Answer

There is no specific survey data available up to October 2023 that confirms more than half of whites believe in extensive remedial and reparative efforts for Americans of color.

Question 18

Few whites now believe they suffer more than blacks from racial bias (so-called "reverse racism").

Accepted Answer

The answer of Few whites now believe they suffer more...

Question 19

One psychological study of 209 whites found that most believed that anti-white bias had declined sharply since the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

The study actually found that many white Americans believe that anti-white bias has increased, even surpassing perceived bias against Black Americans in more recent years, rather than declining sharply since the 1950s.

Question 20

Opinion polls over the last decade have found increasing percentages of whites who believe that they suffer racial discrimination.

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies and opinion polls over the last decade have indeed shown an increasing percentage of white Americans who believe they suffer from racial discrimination. This perception has been documented in various surveys and discussed in social and political analysis.

Quiz 4: Contemporary Racial Framing: White Americans