Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

A new Zogby poll meant to coincide with the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday has revealed some very real differences between whites and blacks on race relations in the country.

From Zogby:

65% of all adults believe the goals of the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. King have been achieved. Of these, 14% strongly agree and 54% somewhat agree. Thirty seven percent disagree, 8% strongly. Among African-Americans, 46% agreed, 5% strongly.

It also revealed a contrast on the state of race relations in the U.S.

Respondents are more closely split on the direction of race relations in the nation, with 43% of all adults choosing right track, 37% wrong track and 20% not sure. African-Americans chose wrong track over right by 39% to 30%, with 31% not sure.

Lastly, the poll also weighed in on affirmative action:

Opinions run strongly regarding affirmative action, with 64% agreeing it rewards some groups at the expense of others. Twenty-one percent agree affirmative action levels the playing field, and 9% said it does neither. Fewer than half of African-Americans (47%) said it levels the playing field, 28% said it rewards some groups over others and 22% said it does neither.