A third of white Americans have no idea what affirmative action is

Evidence

Surveys provide several results crucial to my claim that the debate over affirmative action is more symbolic than substantive. About a third of white Americans cannot make any association with the phrase “affirmative action” (Steeh and Krysan, 1996:129). — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1988 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

To elaborate, perceptions of incompatible group interests concern the extent to which groups are perceived as having conflicting interests and objectives. In addition, they concern beliefs about the group benefits (and consequences) of proposals for change. Very general questions of this type might take the following form: “As blacks move ahead economically, more and more whites fall behind.” Kluegel and Smith (1983) provided evidence that a question concerning the zero-sum structure of economic opportunities is related to white attitudes toward affirmative action. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3365 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A third of white Americans have no association with the phrase affirmative action — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1988; Most Americans wrongly think white men are covered by federal affirmative action — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2030; Zero-sum perceptions of economics drive white opposition to affirmative action — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3365 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• A third of white Americans have no association with the phrase affirmative action #corroborates (0.98) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1988
• Zero-sum perceptions of economics drive white opposition to affirmative action #complicates (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3365