Americans Remain Divided by Race on Economy and Immigration in 2024 Priorities
In 2024, Americans of various racial backgrounds hold divergent views on key issues, including racism and immigration. According to recent polling, a significant majority of U.S. adults across racial groups agree that the government should prioritize the economy and foreign policy matters. However, opinions vary when it comes to specific topics.
The Economy Takes Center Stage
When asked to name up to five topics they would like the government to focus on in 2024, around 70% of U.S. adults from different racial backgrounds, including white, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults, highlighted issues related to the economy. This makes it the most commonly mentioned issue among all groups, with a total of 76% of U.S. adults prioritizing it.
The Impact of Inflation
Among specific economic concerns, inflation emerged as a major issue. Approximately 30% of white, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and Hispanic adults listed inflation as an important focus for 2024. Around 20% of Black adults shared the same concern.
Diverging Views on Immigration
The polling data revealed a disparity in views on immigration. While 43% of Hispanic adults considered it a top priority for government action, only 36% of white adults and 29% of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults shared the same sentiment. Surprisingly, just 19% of Black adults considered immigration a significant issue. In contrast, Black and AAPI adults showed less inclination than their white and Hispanic counterparts for the government to address the country’s involvement overseas.
Different Perspectives on Politics
Politics emerged as an important issue for white adults, with 40% naming it as a focal point for the upcoming year. In contrast, only 20% of Black and AAPI adults shared the same sentiment. Approximately one-third of Hispanic adults considered politics an important focus. White adults also expressed more concern than non-white adults about government spending, corruption, and taxes.
Voices on Racism and Racial Inequality
Non-white adults were more likely to highlight racism and racial inequality as key issues for the government to address. Approximately 20% of Black adults identified racial issues, compared to 13% of Hispanic adults and 12% of AAPI adults. In contrast, only 7% of white adults mentioned the same concerns. Non-white adults were also more likely to prioritize employment issues, including job availability and the minimum wage.
Confidence in the Government
When it comes to confidence in the government’s ability to address important issues in 2024, the survey results were mixed. Approximately 70% of U.S. adults expressed slight or no confidence in the federal government’s progress. Interestingly, nearly 80% of white adults demonstrated low confidence, significantly more than other racial groups. Hispanic adults followed at 63%, while Black adults had the lowest level of pessimism at 46%.
As Americans gear up for the upcoming year, their diverging views on the economy, immigration, and other key issues highlight the significant racial division that still exists. While the economy remains a top priority for all racial groups, opinions differ on immigration and racism. Additionally, white adults exhibit more concern about politics and government-related matters. As the nation moves forward, addressing these divisions and finding common ground will be crucial to progress and unity.
