Some encouraging news for anyone who values racial understanding and diversity.
Journalisms reports that favorable attitudes from Americans about Arabs, Muslims, Arab Americans and Muslim Americans have reached their highest levels in a decade.
A poll of 1514 people conducted by Zogby Analytics for the Arab American Institute found 55 percent of all Americans favor allowing Muslims to remain in the United States and providing them a path to citizenship.
The Institute points to media coverage of hate crimes for the shift in attitudes.
“The increased bigotry communities are experiencing right now seems to also be raising awareness among the public about the very real dangers of this trend,” said said AAI President James Zogby. “With half of all Americans now believing there’s an increase in the number of individuals and groups that identify with white supremacy, policy makers should see this as a call to action. It is time for our elected officials to push back against the bigotry, xenophobia and hatred we are witnessing, even when it comes from the President,” said AAI Executive Director Maya Berry.
Overall 52 percent had a favorable attitude about Arab Americans versus 23 percent who had unfavorable attitudes.
51 percent had a favorable attitude about Muslim Americans with 27 percent unfavorable.
A breakdown of those numbers shows a deep divide between Republicans and Democrats. 64 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of Muslim Americans compared to 35 percent of Republicans. The Democrat- Republican split was 62 percent to 38 percent for Arab Americans.
“Despite the increase in favorable attitudes toward Arab Americans and American Muslims, a worrisome deep partisan divide persists. This divide sets the stage for increased hate crimes and discrimination against both communities,” said Zogby.
On the positive side, favorabile ratings from Republicans increased 10 percent for Muslim Americans and 4 percent for Arab Americans in just two years.
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