Race Concerns Americans More Than It Has in 2 Decades

The percentage of Americans who consider “race relations” or “racism” to be the biggest problem facing the country is at its highest level since 1992, according to a new Gallup poll.

At 13%, the current rate is only two points behind its peak two decades ago, in the aftermath of the riots that followed the Rodney King verdict. Just last month, only 1% of Americans viewed race as the top concern, proving what an enormous impact the Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice cases have had on the public.

Among nonwhites, 22% named race relations or racism as the country’s biggest problem; among whites, it was only 9%.

“The economy” ties with race among those polled, and the highest-ranked concern is “government” at 15%.

[Gallup]