CBS NEWS POLL
For release: Tuesday, July 1, 2014
6:30 pm ET
The 1964 Civil Rights Act: 50 Years Later
June 18-22, 2014
Fifty years after the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, majorities of blacks and whites think
real progress has been made in getting rid of racial discrimination, but most say at least some
discrimination still exists today. African Americans are more likely than whites to see
discrimination as widespread.
More than three in four Americans, including most whites and blacks, think the passage of the
1964 Civil Rights Act was a very important event in U.S. history; another 19% call it somewhat
important. Just 5% do not consider it an important event.
Historical Importance of 1964 Civil Rights Act
Total Whites Blacks
Very 76% 77% 73%
Somewhat 19 18 23
Not very/not at all 5 5 1
Nearly eight in 10 Americans think theres been real progress since the 1960s in getting rid of
racial discrimination; just 19% say there hasnt been much progress. The percentage that says
progress has been made has remained fairly consistent in recent years, but it has increased
nearly 30 points since 1992.
Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination?
Now 3/2014 8/2013 7/2008 2/2000 6/1997 12/1996 5/1992
Yes 78% 79% 73% 76% 71% 61% 56% 50%
No 19 20 20 20 26 34 39 46
Views on progress differ by race, however. Whites (82%) are more likely than African
Americans (59%) to think real progress has been made. More than a third of African Americans
say there hasnt been real progress.
Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination?
Total Whites Blacks
Yes 78% 82% 59%
No 19 16 38
But few - just 5% - think all of the goals of Martin Luther King and the 1960s civil rights
movement have been achieved. 38% think most of these goals have been met, but 52%
(including 63% of blacks) think only some of the goals of the civil rights movement have been
achieved.
How Many Goals of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement Have Been Achieved?
Total Whites Blacks
All 5% 4% 3%
Most 38 39 29
Only some 52 52 63
Almost none 2 2 3
Moreover, most Americans say discrimination against blacks exists today, and blacks are far
more likely than whites to think it is pervasive. 41% of blacks say there is a lot of discrimination
against African Americans today, compared to just 14% of whites who say that.
How Much Discrimination is there Against African Americans Today?
Total Whites Blacks
A lot 17% 14% 41%
Some 49 51 47
Only a little 27 28 9
None at all 5 5 1
Fifty years after the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, most whites (63%) think both blacks
and whites have an equal chance to get ahead in todays society, but fewer African Americans
46% - share that view. Blacks are more likely than whites to say white Americans have a better
chance to get ahead in todays society than black Americans.
Who Has a Better Chance of Getting Ahead Today?
Total Whites Blacks
White people 30% 28% 46%
Black people 5 5 4
Equal 61 63 46
____________________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone June 18-22, 2014 among 1,009 adults nationwide. Data collection
was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from
samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the
entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher.
Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of
Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
CBS NEWS POLL
The 1964 Civil Rights Act: 50 Yeas Late
!"#e 1$%&&' &014
CR-01. In general, who do you think has a better chance of getting ahead in today's society--white people, black
people, or do white people and black people have about an eual chance of getting ahead!
"#"$% R&'(#)*&)"'
"otal +hite ,lack -ar1.d
/ / / /
+hite people 00 12 .3 0.
,lack people 4 4 . 4
&ual 31 30 .3 45
*on't know6)o answer . . . 0
CR-01. 'o7e people say that since the 1530s there has been a lot of real progress in getting rid of racial discri7ination
against blacks. #thers say that there hasn't been 7uch real progress for blacks over that ti7e. +hich do you agree with
7ore! +ould you say there's been a lot of real progress getting rid of racial discri7ination or hasn't there been 7uch
real progress!
(rogress 82 21 45 85
)o real progress 15 13 02 10
*on9t know6no answer 1 1 1 1
CR-00. :ow 7uch discri7ination do you think there is against $frican $7ericans in our society today -- a lot, so7e,
only a little, or none at all!
$ug10$
$ lot 18 1. .1 15
'o7e .5 41 .8 .5
#nly a little 18 12 5 11
)one at all 4 4 1 8
*on9t know6no answer 1 1 0 .
CR-0.. "he 153. Civil Rights $ct prohibits discri7ination based on race, color, religion, se; or national origin. *o you
consider passage of the 153. Civil Rights $ct to be a very i7portant event in <.'. history, so7ewhat i7portant, not very
i7portant, or not at all i7portant!
-ar1.d
=ery i7portant 83 88 80 82
'o7ewhat i7portant 15 12 10 18
)ot very i7portant 0 0 1 1
)ot at all i7portant 1 1 -- 1
*on9t know6no answer 1 1 0 1
CR-04. "hinking about the goals of -artin %uther >ing and the 1530's civil rights 7ove7ent, do you think that all of
their goals have been achieved, 7ost have been achieved, only so7e have been achieved, or al7ost none of their goals
have been achieved!
"#"$% R&'(#)*&)"'
"otal +hite ,lack $ug10a
/ / / /
$ll 4 . 0 .
-ost 02 05 15 01
#nly 'o7e 41 41 30 44
$l7ost )one 1 1 0 0
*on9t know6no answer 0 0 1 8
<nweighted +eighted -argin of error
"otal respondents 1005 0 pts.
"otal whites 804 801 . pts
"otal blacks 1.2 110 2 pts.