I am Hunter Bacot with the UALR Institute of Government.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of our annual Racial Attitudes Surveys of Pulaski County.
Leaders working toward improved racial and ethnic relations need local data in order to get a clear picture of a problem so progress can be made in our community.
As Dr. Joel Anderson said in confronting this issue, “You have to face it to fix it.”
One of the most important factors hindering race relations is a lack of trust in others who may look or sound different from oneself.
In surveys over the past ten years, respondents have indicated a lack of trust in government, the education system, the judicial system, and people of other races.
Our surveys show whites are more trusting of other races in general than blacks or Hispanics. But since 2003, blacks have indicated increased trust in others, up from 18% to 25% in 2011.
Learn more about Racial Attitudes in Pulaski County at the annual conference later this month.
To find out information about the conference and the survey results, visit ualr.edu.