Opinion of White Americans about African Americans: The Case of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Even though the opinion of white Americans regarding African Americans has changed since the post World War Ð era, common misperceptions about African Americans have not disappeared from American society. In Winston-Salem, many of the old misperceptions and racist opinions about African Americans that prevailed in the pre WW II era continue to thrive alongside new patterns of prejudice. Evidence from this research suggest that a minority of the white residents hold favorable or sympathetic opinions such as the call for equitable distribution of opportunities and burdens; by contrast a majority are either "prejudiced" or "ambivalent" regarding their opinions on certain issues about African Americans. The intolerance of those deemed "prejudiced" are fuelled by misperceptions and ethnocentrism while the prejudicial sentiments of the "ambivalent" stemmed from their own insecurities triggered by the fluid social, economic and political environment in Winston-Salem. In the final analysis, white prejudice against African Americans provided a basis for understanding racial inequalities in Winston-Salem.