Slow Shifts in State Racial Resentment Levels Revealed Through 1980-2016 Data

This article explores state-level racial resentment dynamics using data from 1988 to 2016. Researchers developed novel scores representing racial resentment at each US state level, employing multilevel regression and survey weighting techniques with nationally representative surveys linked to Census information.

Created through a process of linear multilevel regression coupled with poststratification weights derived from both national surveys and census data, these time-varying estimates offer insights into how subnational racial attitudes evolve. The findings reveal that while some states show increases in resentment over nearly three decades, others demonstrate decreases contrary to the accepted narrative of continuous progress.

Key Takeaways:

• States exhibit slow-changing levels of racial animosity
• Dynamic variation exists across geographic regions including the traditional "Solid South"
• Historical low-points for symbolic racism occurred earlier than commonly believed
• These measures provide tools for tracking resentment's role in state policy innovation over time 🚫