African Americans Upbeat In Obama Era, Says Pew Poll

The recession may be affecting our communities the hardest, but African Americans continue to be optimistic about the future, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center. Researchers conducting a study on African American attitudes towards race found that feelings of progress and optimism in our communities were more than likely inspired by the election of President Barack Obama. Thirty-nine percent of the people surveyed said they feel as though they are better off now than they were five years ago. Take a look at President Obama's first year in office. Find out how Black men feel in the age of Obama.

ESSENCE.COM Jan, 16, 2010

The recession may be affecting our communities the hardest, but African Americans continue to be optimistic about the future, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center.

Researchers conducting a study on African American attitudes towards race found that feelings of progress and optimism in our communities were more than likely inspired by the election of President Barack Obama. Thirty-nine percent of the people surveyed said they feel as though they are better off now than they were five years ago, while 56% felt the gap between Blacks and Whites standard-of-living had narrowed in the past 10 years.

Retired University of Maryland political science professor, Ronald Walters calls the findings “the politics of expectation. “It’s having an African-American president and the hope that, when all is said and done, he will help (African-Americans),” he told the Miami Herald.