54 percent of Black Americans say they have experienced unfair treatment: Gallup

The majority of Black Americans say they have been treated unfairly in at least one situation, according to a Gallup survey released Tuesday.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said they were treated unfairly while shopping during the previous 30 days, up from 24 percent last year, and 20 percent reported being unfairly treated by the police. In three other situations included in the survey, assessments of unfairness are similar to those reported a year ago, ranging from 17 percent to 21 percent. 

While none of the results for individual situations in the survey approaches the majority level, the majority of Black Americans, 54 percent, said they have been treated unfairly in at least one of the five situations. 

Hispanic Americans, who were asked the same questions, reported fewer instances of unfair treatment than Black Americans in the same situations. Sixteen percent of Hispanic American respondents reported being unfairly treated while shopping and 11 percent reported being unfairly treated in dealings with police officers. Hispanic American respondents reported the highest level of unfairness in their dealings at restaurants, with 19 percent saying it happened to them.

Gallup surveyed Hispanic Americans for unfair treatment in the same situations in 2013 and 2015, and the results were generally similar to the current data. Those who reported being unfairly treated while shopping and while in a restaurant increased by 9 and 10 points, respectively, over 2015.

The survey of 577 adults was conducted June 1 to July 5 and has a margin of error of 7 points.

This survey follows another Gallup poll released Friday in which 64 percent of respondents said racism is widespread in the U.S., up 3 points from the 2016 survey.