Religion and Racism

In 1973 when the Supreme Court outlawed laws against interracial marriages, the General Social Survey of white Americans showed that 26% of Catholics and 26% of “nones” (those who had no religious affiliation) supported such laws. According to the Survey 39% of Mainline Protestants supported laws against interracial marriages whereas 48% of Evangelicals took such a position. In other words, in 1973 the religious tradition in which I was raised and educated, to my shame, had a strong racist edge to it. Given the underlying values and what was taught within Evangelical churches, that religious stream should have been the least racist instead of having the highest level.

Fortunately since 1973 there has been a change and a convergence. In 2004, only 5% Evangelical Protestants hold such laws are appropriate which is similar to the views of Mainline Protestants (3%), Catholics (2%) and “nones” (2%). No longer does the nature and level of one’s religiosity seem to impact the level of racism.

Though this is a positive change, tinges of more subtle racism occurs. In 1973 only 34% of whites reported favoring outlawing discrimination in home sales (i.e. whites refusing to sell to non-whites or home associations prohibiting to allow non-whites to buy a home in their association). In 2008 while that had risen to 69%, it means that 31% of whites feel that it is legitimate to prohibit non-whites into their neighborhood.

In 1977, 25% of white Americans stated that the reason African Americans had worse jobs, lower income and poorer homes what because they have “less in-born ability to learn.” Today that 25% has dwindled to 9%...which means that nearly 1 out of 10 American whites believe African Americans are inferior.

While racism is diminishing, unfortunately it is not a thing of the past. It remains but with a more subtle face.