LANHAM, Md.--Seventy percent of Blacks already have a plan for their future, according to a survey, which goes on to counter long-held perceptions.The survey was sponsored by Radio One, the radio holding company, and was done by Yankelovich, the research firm.
Nearly 54 percent of those surveyed said they were optimistic about their future, and 60 percent believe “things are getting better for me.”
The study found strong group identity across age and income brackets, and discloses a comprehensive and nuanced look at how Blacks feel about many aspects of life in America.
The survey included 3,400 of ages 13-74, and was said to represent 30 million.
Eleven segments were identified in the survey.
It found that, among teenagers, 25 percent are saving to start a business, and, among those in their 20’s, 45 percent are already saving for retirement.
The average household of those surveyed has three members, the survey found, half live in a single family home, one-third live in apartments, one-third live in the suburbs and half live in cities.
Among the 29 to 74 year-olds surveyed, one-third are married.
Sixty-one percent of the adults surveyed are parents, 5 percent of those ages 13-17 are parents, and 50 percent of all parents are single parents.
Thirty-four percent of those surveyed ages 18 and older have attended college or have a two-year degree, 21 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 40 percent have an annual income under $25,000, and one-third have an annual income of more than $50,000.
The survey found that the so-called “digital divide” has faded.
Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed are online (compared to 71 percent of all Americans), and two-thirds of them shop online.
Among Black teens, more than 90 percent are online.
The survey found that Black identity remains strong across all age and economic groups.
While 56 percent of those surveyed have “all” or “almost all” all-Black friends, 30 percent said they prefer being around people of the same race.
Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed said they have enormous respect of the opinions of their elders (84 percent among teenagers).
While 71 percent said they believe Blacks need to stick together to achieve gains for their community, 54 percent of teenagers concurred.
Discrimination remains a very real part of Black life in America.
While 24 percent said they had been personally discriminated against in the past three months, 82 percent said they believe it is “important for parents to prepare their children for prejudice.”
Sixty-seven percent said they believe the history of slavery is a key way in which Blacks are different from other groups.
One-third also said that too much emphasis is put on the oppression of Blacks.
While 72 percent of Blacks said they know how to have fun and 60 percent said things are getting better for them, 33 percent said they often feel stressed.
The survey found that money is the greatest cause of stress (53 percent), followed by the well-being of children (49 percent) and health (40 percent).
While three in 10 feel financially secure, the survey found, eight of 10 pay their bills each month.
These are other findings by the survey:
Eighty-three percent have health insurance; a majority (66 percent of women and 52 percent of men) have family doctors; and 40 percent who go online search the Internet for health and medical information.
Also, 83 percent describe themselves as Christian, though only 41 percent go to church at least once a week, and 70 percent of women and 59 percent of men believe that faith in God is more likely to help them recover from a serious illness.
Seventy-two percent want to learn more about how to invest, 50 percent believe banks and other financial institutions do not understand their needs, and only 8 percent trust credit card companies.
Twenty-one percent said they frequently shop for fun, and 19 percent said they have to have what they like even if it costs more than they would like to spend.
Blacks are wary of many American institutions, and they have the highest level of trust in the education system and Black media to treat them and their families fairly (30 percent), compared to 24 percent for the health care system, 12 to 16 percent for police, government and mainstream media and 8 percent for credit card companies.
Eighty-four percent of households in the survey have cable television, and 81 percent watch Black-oriented television channels on a weekly basis.
Eighty-seven percent listen to radio in a typical week, 16 percent listen to satellite radio.
Sixty-four percent watch news or news magazines on television, 50 percent watch court television shows, while 41 percent watch sports programs and 46 percent watch entertainment shows.
Only 29 percent of those surveyed agree that the mainstream media portrays Blacks in a positive light, and 50 percent said they do not relate to the way Blacks are portrayed on most Black-oriented television shows.
Two-thirds of those surveyed believe there should be more television shows that focus on Blacks, and 40 percent think Black-oriented television shows are reinforcing a negative stereotype of Blacks.
