Name of Report: Executive Summary of the NCCJ Governor’s Summit on Diversity Poll “Getting Along in Rhode Island”
Organizational affiliation: National Conference on Community and Justice, Providence Journal-Bulletin
Author: Urban Associates, Inc., Providence Journal-Bulletin Market Research Department
Publisher: Urban Associates, Inc.
Date: 1998
Pages: 52 pages
Content Summary
The content of this report is the result of a 1998 study on race relations in Rhode Island. Four hundred people were randomly surveyed through phone interviews, with an over-sampling of Blacks, Latinos and Asians as well as self-administrated surveys given to Asians via the Socio-Economic Development Council for Southeast Asians in order to get better picture of those communities. There is no data specific to the Native American community and they were not interviewed. The report looks at quality of life, contact with other ethnic groups, neighborhood life, perceptions of racism and prejudice, social and economic discrimination and affirmative action.
Major Findings
Overall, Whites are more satisfied with their quality of life in Rhode Island while Asians are satisfied with their quality of life but not Rhode Island as a state. Whites have the least contact with other ethnic groups and claim to have less racial tension but they live in more segregated neighborhoods. Black/Asian contact is the rarest amongst minority groups. Gay men and women are perceived as most discriminated against followed by immigrants. Blacks are most sensitive to cases of discrimination while White more often do not perceive discrimination. Whites believe that a middle class life is far easier for Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Minorities cite discrimination, lack of public education opportunities, ineffective government programs, lack of jobs, and White not wanting minorities to achieve as causes of disparities. Whites perceive affirmative action as reverse racism, while minorities and particularly Black feel that affirmative action policies have worked. All groups agree that racism is still a problem but the majority believe that it is not as big of a problem in Rhode Island as the rest of the country. Also, most ethnic groups report experiencing discrimination especially in health care and education opportunities.
Related Issues
Overall, the state of race relations is not openly hostile or volatile but that is largely due to the fact that most White families live in segregated neighborhoods. The Black community is most sensitive to issues of race and discrimination but they are also more likely to be long-standing residents whereas the Asian and Latino communities are recent residents and more satisfied with quality of life. The Latino community also suffers from lack of education, which could be related to their quality of life. Also, since gay men and women as well as immigrants are perceived to be most discriminated, there is no sense of immediacy in terms of racial inequality.
Reference List
All tables and graphs are the result of Urban Associate, Inc. questionnaire data.
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