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Summary of Poll Conducted on Attitudes Toward

Brown v. Board of Education and Affirmative Action

1994 Gallup Poll:

• 87% of Americans believed that Brown v. Board of Education was rightly decided - up from 63% in the early 60s.

• 65% of the general population (70% of African Americans) say that desegregation has improved the quality of education for black students.

• 62% of those polled say that desegregation has improved race relations.

• 84% of African Americans support further desegregation efforts.

March 2003 Associated Press:

• 53% of those polled believe affirmative action programs that provide advantages or preferences for blacks, Hispanics and other minorities in hiring, promoting and college admissions should be continued.

• 51% think affirmative action programs are needed today to help minorities such as black and Hispanics overcome discrimination.

• 80% of the general population think it is important to have a racially diverse student body.

• 59% of those polled believe that we are not too close or not close at all to eliminating ^{- broken promise} discrimination against racial minorities in America. 38% believe we are fairly close or very close.