HIT Poll: Black Voters on Police Violence & Gov. DeSantis Destroying Black Studies
HIT Poll: Black Voters on Police Violence & Gov. DeSantis Destroying Black Studies
The latest BlackTrack poll shows Black voters say police used unjustified force against Tyre Nichols & officers should be found guilty; disapprove of DeSantis blocking Black history courses.
a HIT Strategies feature
In the latest HIT Strategies February 2023 BlackTrack 82 percent of Black voters believe the police force used in the death of Tyre Nichols was unjustified, and 90 percent believe the Memphis policemen who used such force should be found guilty, according to HIT Strategies’ latest survey tracking attitudes of Black voters (BlackTrack). A majority (59 percent) of Black voters also believe that resources should be diverted from police departments to fund community services.
Black voters also expressed their displeasure with Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis blocking an AP African American history program in public schools. Sixty-five (65 percent) reported they disagreed with the decision, with a majority (51 percent) saying they “strongly disagree.” Just 14 percent said they agreed with the decision. On the topic of Black history, 70 percent of Black voters also believe K-12 public schools teach “too little” about Black history.
Additionally, after several high-altitude objects entered U.S. airspace, including a large spy-balloon from China, 68 percent of Black voters approved of the President’s handling of this issue - only 6 percent disapproved.
Finally, this month’s BlackTrack, surveyed on the heels of President Biden’s State of the Union Address, showed a presidential approval bump. Biden’s Black approval increased from 74 percent to 82 percent over just the last month.
The Breakdown …
Tyre Nichols
The 90 percent of Black voters who believe the Memphis policemen should be found guilty is 20-points higher than the 70 percent majority of Americans who believe the officers should be found guilty in a recent YouGov survey.
There is a large generation gap in Black voters (66 percent) who viewed footage of Tyre Nichols murder - 75 percent of Black voters 50 and over watched compared to 59 percent of Black voters under 50.
Black voters under 50 were far more likely than their 50 and over counterparts to say force against Nichols was justified (25 percent compared to 10 percent).
Still, there was just a 7-point gap between generations on whether police should be found guilty, 87 percent of Black voters under 50 and 94 percent of Black voters 50 and over say police should be found guilty.
A majority (59 percent) of Black voters believe that resources should be diverted from police departments to fund community services. Just 8 percent disagreed.
Black History
22 percent of Black voters under 50 agreed with DeSantis’s decision to block the AP African American studies course, compared with just 3 percent of Black voters 50 and over.
86 percent of Black voters 50 and over believe there is too little Black history taught in public schools, against just 59 percent of Black voters under 50.
President Biden’s Approval
82 percent of Black voters approve of Joe Biden’s job as president, an 8-point increase from just last month.
Across gender, 81 percent of Black men approve and 83% of Black women approve.
Across generations, there is a much larger gap: 88% of Black voters 50 and over approve compared to 77 percent of Black voters under 50.
Congressional Democrat’s Approval
80 percent of Black voters approve of Democrats in Congress, a 6-point increase from last month.
Across gender, 79 percent of Black men approve, and 81% of Black women approve.
Across generations, there is a much larger gap: 87 percent of Black voters 50 and over approve compared to 75 percent of Black voters under 50.
Vote Power
59 percent of Black voters believe their vote has the power to make a change, a modest increase from 55 percent last month.
Across gender, 61 percent of Black men feel powerful, and 57 percent of Black women feel powerful.
Across generations, 62 percent of Black voters 50 and over feel powerful, and 57 percent of Black voters under 50 feel powerful.
Other Highlights …
