Poll: 75 percent of Southern whites call Confederate flag symbol of pride. So do 11 percent of Southern blacks.
There's been a tectonic shift in the politics of the Confederate battle flag since the murder of nine black worshippers at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church on June 17. But there hasn't been much of a shift in how Americans view the flag, according to a June 26-28 CNN/ORC poll released Thursday. Overall, 57 percent of Americans say the Confederate flag is more a symbol or Southern pride than racism — about the same as in 2000 — but that number hides some sharp racial divides.
Among white respondents, 66 percent picked Southern pride, versus 17 percent of blacks. On the other hand, 72 percent of black respondents saw more racism than pride in the flag, as did 25 percent of whites. In the South, the split was starker: 75 percent of whites and 11 percent of blacks favored Southern pride, while 75 percent of blacks and 18 percent of whites called it a symbol of racism. Among all whites, those with college educations were more likely to see racism than whites without a college education, the poll found.
When it comes to what actually happened in the South after the shooting, majorities of all respondents approve: Removing the Confederate flag from (non-museum) government property wins 55 percent to 43 percent, and 50 percent backs the decisions of private companies to stop selling or manufacturing the flag, versus 47 who oppose the decision. You can find more numbers at CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Cicada-geddon: the fungus that controls insects like 'zombies'
Under The Radar Expert says bugs will develop 'hypersexualisation' despite their genitals falling off
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published