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Poll: 61 Percent of Black Americans Believe Race Relations Are Worsening

Sixty-one percent of African-Americans believe race relations in the nation are becoming worse according to a poll conducted by the Emerson College Polling Society.

For those who have been dreaming of a post-racial society, the nation has a long way to go as 61 percent of African-Americans feel that race relations are becoming worse, according to a poll conducted by the Emerson College Polling Society

Overall, 34 percent of respondents to the survey said race relations are becoming worse, while 44 percent said they weren't. Views on discrimination, opportunity and biases in the justice system differ among race, the poll shows. 

Fifty-three percent of African-Americans believe that minority groups have fewer opportunities compared to 27 percent of Caucasians. 

Further divisions existed when participants were surveyed about the bias in the American judicial system. Sixty-nine percent of African-Americans agreed the system is biased; 22 percent said it was not. On the other hand, 28 percent of Caucasians believe the system is biased and 51 percent do not.
Surprisingly, Caucasians disapproved more than Blacks on the Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down a section of the Voting Rights Act which sought to reduce voter discrimination. Caucasians disapproved of the decision at 40 percent, while African-Americans were at 35 percent.
The ECPS poll was carried out Jan. 29 to Jan. 31 with 958 registered voters.
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Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege.

(Photo: Casarsa/Getty Images)

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