Class differences in racial attitudes: a divided black America?

An analysis of data from the 1979-1980 National Survey of Black Americans showed significant differences in the way blacks of different social classes view race. Black Americans were found to identify more closely with blacks in Africa than with white Americans. In the area of political activism, those in the middle class were observed to be more active than those in the lower class. Differences in racial attitudes were also observed among blacks living in different regions. These findings reinforce the theory that social divisiveness exists among blacks in the United States.