CHANGES IN WHITE ATTITUDES TOWARD BLACKS - 1963-1977

This paper investigates white attitudes toward blacks from national survey data collected in 1963, 1972, and 1977. Five attitude items are examined with respect to a full multivariate framework including age, educational attainment,region of residence, and time as independent variables. The results generally show large effects for each independent variable on each attitude item, net of the others. Variations from this pattern are also explored. There is evidence that racial liberalism among whites is slowing its growth in the 1970s and even reversing in some cases. The results are discussed and tentative conclusions suggested. ©Public Opinion Quarterly.