Key takeaways
- Many struggle to evaluate Harris, with many giving her a grade of “incomplete.”
- Yet they want her to succeed.
- Participants criticized what they perceived as an overly superficial approach to teaching Black history and express a desire to have schools teach “real history,” even if it makes some people uncomfortable.
Methodology
Vice President Harris Rated Favorably By Democrats And Black Americans
President Biden’s approval rating among all Black Americans declined 10 points over the course of 2021 (from 86% to 76%); among those under the age of 35, approval has declined 25 points since this time last year (from 88% to 63%).
Harris’ Record Is Largely Unknown, Even When Discussion Reveals Awareness Of Issues In Her Portfolio
Harris Being The First Black Female Vice President Is Important; Participants Want To See More From Her
Participants Expand On The Symbolic Importance Of Kamala Harris
Most Lament How Black History Is Taught In Schools, And Believe It Should Be Part Of The Curriculum Year-Round
Participants Want To Normalize Teaching Black History As U.S. History In Classrooms
Many Say Black History Education Should Go Beyond The Struggle For Equality
Others Suggest “Real” History Makes White People Uncomfortable
Participants Explain Black Youth Miss Out When Curricula Are “Watered Down”
About The Study
This release features findings from three focus groups conducted on January 25, 2022 with Black voters in three states: in Michigan with less politically engaged men (most of whom were in our February 2021 group), in Georgia with younger Democratic men, and in Texas with younger Democratic women. Qualitative results are not statistically projectable.