Race, Interests, and Beliefs About Affirmative Action

Studies of public opinion on affirmative action have focused heavily on the views of White Americans. Two contending schools of thought tend to concur that Whites generally oppose affirmative action, but sharply disagree over whether the hostility to affirmative action rests on cherished American values of individualism or on anti-Black racism. This article questions both perspectives and the assumptions about public opinion that they share. It is important to examine the views of Whites and of racial minority group members and to recognize that group interests play an important part in the politics affirmative action. The analysis focuses on beliefs about the effects of affirmative action. The results point to real but far from irreconcilable race-based differences in opinion, a clear dependence of Whites' views on perceived threats from Blacks, and no influence of individualism on Whites' beliefs about the effects of affirmative action. The research suggests ways of moving beyond the political stalemate of opposing claims to moral virtue in the debate over affirmative action.