Under questioning from a pollster, most Americans would not likely admit to harboring any prejudiced feelings about any group, making it difficult to honestly assess how people really feel about their black, brown, gay, disabled, Muslim or Jewish neighbors. But what if respondents were asked about what “most Americans” think? Would their answers be a little more honest; would they reflect veritable observations and opinions of their fellow citizens?

Zogby’s “Report Card on Prejudice in America” aimed to discover how Americans view minorities, and the survey questions tread the water delicately. Framing questions to the 10,387 American adults in the manner of how they feel “most Americans” would respond to a particular situation, results indicated that while respondents don’t generally consider themselves prejudiced, they feel that most of their neighbors are.

In public statement, pollster John Zogby said, “Over my years of polling, I’ve learned that Americans tend to offer socially acceptable responses when questioned on their own views about race and prejudice. That’s why in this poll we predominantly asked people about ‘most Americans’ views on race and prejudice. We believe this provides a far more accurate window into how people really think about these issues. Americans are more forthcoming when discussing the problem in the context of their neighbors’ lives than in the context of their own lives.”

The poll was commissioned by the Game Show Network (GSN) in tandem with its release of “Without Prejudice?” a series dedicated to exploring the issues of tolerance and bigotry.

Dena Kaplan, GSN’s Sr. Vice President for Marketing, said publicly, “Our network is proud to sponsor the Without Prejudice Project. This pioneering effort – which includes the poll, partnering with leading advocacy groups, and the broadcast of our new game show, ’Without Prejudice?’ – will help provoke a constructive national conversation about our inner-most feelings toward race, religion and other issues that define the way we, as Americans, treat one another.”

Findings of the Zogby/GSN poll were complicated. While more than half of  Americans (55 percent) maintain that race relations have improved over the past ten years, nearly three-quarters (71 percent) state that “most Americans” would choose to have a white clerk service them in a convenience store rather a black or an Arab one.

 

In terms of crime, the term “white collar” is interpreted near-literally. Almost three-quarters (73 percent) stated that most Americans would expect African Americans to be involved in shooting, more than half (55 percent) stated that in a drug bust, most Americans would expect African Americans to be involved, but more than half (53 percent) asserted that in a case of identity theft, whites were most likely to be suspected. Seventy percent stated that in cases of insurance fraud, whites were also most likely to be suspected.

 

Prejudice is not always black and white; it can also be red versus blue. Most Americans, according to the study, condemn Republicans for most of the maladies that plague the country, including war (62 percent Republicans versus 14 percent Democrats), and global warming (56 percent Republicans versus 10 percent Democrats). Over half of Americans (52 percent) claim most Americans blame Republicans for prejudice, while nearly a quarter (22 percent) maintain that most Americans blame Democrats. Nearly half (47 percent) say that most Americans hold Republicans responsible for corruption, while nearly one-third (31 percent) say most Americans consider Democrats responsible. Only on the issue of crime did respondents flip their opinions: 42 percent say most Americans fault Democrats for the crime rate, versus 23 percent who blame Republicans.

 

Attitudes toward different religious groups were also examined. A large majority (83 percent) state that most Americans believe Muslims are most likely to engage in terrorism, and 42 percent maintain that most Americans would be disturbed by their child dating a Muslim. Seventeen percent state that most of their neighbors would be upset if their child dated an atheist (17 percent) or a Mormon (14 percent). More than any other religious group, Catholics are blamed for sexual abuse (37 percent). Negative attitudes towards Jews were rarely reported.

 

Despite a seemingly anti-Arab sentiment, over half (57 percent) maintain that most Americans would vote an Arab-American for President, before they would a person over the age of 70 (51 percent) or an atheist (51 percent). Fifty-eight percent stated that most Americans would vote a gay person for President, but that many would oppose his or her marriage (62 percent).

 

Men are about as culpable for the world’s evils as are Republicans, according to respondents. An astonishing 93 percent hold men most responsible for crime, infidelity (82 percent) and the spread of sexually transmitted disease (72 percent).

 

As for disabilities, over one-quarter (26 percent) believe their fellow citizens would least want to work with someone who is morbidly obese, compared with 22 percent who would least want to work with someone who is facially disfigured. The deaf (3 percent) and blind (1 percent) would be much more accepted in the workplace, according to respondents.