Group Threat and Regional Change in Attitudes Toward African-Americans

Using survey data from the GSS 1972-91, the author assesses several possible causes of regional differences and temporal change in white racial attitudes. The study concludes that (1) support for racetargeted policies has not changed over birth cohorts, (2) changes in individual characteristics explain only a small portion of the decline in traditional prejudice over birth cohorts, (3) the influence of education on racial attitudes has been increasing over birth cohorts, and (4) percentage black and average per capita income are good predictors of racial attitudes and explain a portion of the North/South gap and the change over time in prejudice.