Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn affirmative action in college admissions, a recent Washington Post article examined a poll suggesting that Black Americans might not strongly object to the ruling. The poll, conducted by Economist/YouGov, indicates that more Black Americans support the decision than oppose it. However, the Post's analysis, written by Aaron Blake, acknowledges the complexities surrounding public opinion on affirmative action.

Blake highlighted that while historical polls have shown general support for affirmative action among Black Americans, other polls reveal support for race-blind admissions. He suggests that this discrepancy might stem from a lack of perceived personal connection to affirmative action policies. The YouGov poll indicates that only a small percentage of Black respondents felt personally impacted by affirmative action, with an even smaller portion feeling positively affected. A previous Pew poll cited by Blake further supports this notion, showing that less than half of Black Americans viewed affirmative action positively, and a larger percentage felt disadvantaged by such policies.

A demonstrator outside the Supreme Court following the affirmative action ruling. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Blake acknowledges the challenges in polling on affirmative action, noting that the framing of questions can influence responses. He points out that general support for race-blind policies might differ from opinions on specific affirmative action practices, especially if those practices impact Black and Latino enrollment at selective colleges. Additionally, he suggests that respondents might hesitate to admit to benefiting from affirmative action, as it could raise questions about their achievements. Despite these nuances, Blake concludes that the poll results offer insights into the potential short-term public reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision.

President Biden commenting on the Supreme Court's decision. (Chris Kleponis / Pool/Sipa USA)

It is important to note that while the ABC/Ipsos poll mentioned in the original article meets Fox News' polling standards, the Economist/YouGov poll does not.