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RESULTS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY OF BLACK ADULTS

THE LIVES AND VOICES OF BLACK AMERICA


ON THE INTERSECTIONS OF POLITICS, RACE, AND PUBLIC POLICY

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017


INTRODUCTION.
PerryUndem conducted a robust study of Black adults views toward the political landscape, racism, the intersection of race and
policy, and policies that affect the ability and freedom to raise healthy children and families. The goal of the research is to provide
a resource for policymakers, media, and other parties who want to understand the lives of Black adults in America and the effects
of policy decisions on their lives.

Public opinion surveys among the Black community are relatively rare, with the exception of small subsamples within general
population surveys. In a typical nationally-representative survey of n = 1,000 adults, only n = 130 respondents will be Black. For
researchers, the potential errors introduced are large when we report findings based off such a small subsample. One reason
surveys among Black adults are infrequent is cost. The cost of rigorous survey research is directly correlated with the incidence of
the target population. Black adults comprise 13 percent of adults in the U.S. and therefore take more time and funds to reach.

The survey was conducted among n = 1,003 Black adults 18 and older from July 18 to August 7, 2017. The margin of sampling
error is + 4.21 percentage points. The survey was administered by the University of Chicagos NORC AmeriSpeaks panel. More
detailed methods are in the Appendix. The questionnaire with topline results can be found here.

PerryUndem is a non-partisan public opinion research firm based in Washington, DC. The firm conducts research on public policy
issues. Our clients include the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Cancer
Society.

This study was commissioned by In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda, with funding from the
Ford Foundation.

2
SUMMARY.
The Black community is bracing for worse times Most say it is not a good time to be Black in
under President Trump. A large majority of Black America. Eighteen percent say it is a good time
adults (84 percent) feels the country is off on the to be a Black woman in America, compared to
wrong track. Two-thirds (66 percent) feels 61 percent saying it is a good time to be a
worried about President Trump and about the White woman. Twelve percent say it is a good
same proportion (64 percent) thinks the Presidents time to be a Black man versus 69 percent saying
policies will negatively impact Black people (versus the same of a White man.
13 percent who think policies will negatively
impact White people). See page 18.

One in four Black women (25 percent) has tried to


get health care because they think the President One in three (35 percent) says it has become
and Congress might affect their ability to get care. more acceptable to treat Black people with
One in six Black women of reproductive age (17 less respect. The same proportion (35 percent)
percent) has tried to get birth control because they says disrespectful treatment has become less
think the new administration will affect their ability acceptable in the past few years. The rest (29
to get care. percent) do not see a recent change.

See pages 12 16. See page 19.

3
Majorities of Black adults think the Presidents policies
will have a negative effect on each of these things:

The Black communitys ability to have access to As well as the ability to

Quality, affordable health care Keep children safe from mass incarceration
Affordable mental health care Keep children safe from over-policing
Affordable child care Have equal pay in the workplace
Affordable housing Have equal opportunities to move up in the workplace
Affordable birth control Feel safe in neighborhoods
Affordable, legal abortion care Get treatment for drug and alcohol addiction
Quality public schools Vote in future elections without barriers
Healthy and affordable food options Raise children
Job opportunities that pay a livable wage Get help in situations of domestic violence
Higher education Plan whether or when to become a parent

See pages 14 15.

4
Majorities of Black adults think racism affects Half to two-thirds think racism affects the Black
many factors related to opportunities. communitys ability to

Two-thirds or more think racism affects the Black Raise children


communitys ability to Have access to affordable birth control
Have access to affordable, legal abortion care
Have access to quality, affordable health care Have access to clean water
Have access to affordable mental health care Plan for whether or when to become a parent
Feel safe in neighborhoods
Have access to affordable child care See pages 21 22.
Have access to affordable housing
Have access to quality public schools
Have opportunities to move up in the workplace
Have job opportunities that pay a livable wage A majority thinks systems in our country are set
Have equal pay in the workplace up to give White people more opportunities
Have access to healthy and affordable food options than Black people. About two-thirds (67 percent)
Keep children safe from mass incarceration see unequal opportunities at the core of these
Keep children safe from over-policing systems. Three in ten (30 percent) say they think
Have enough neighborhood services systems are set up for equal opportunities. Two
Have access to higher education percent say systems are set up to benefit Black
Vote in future elections without barriers people more than White people.
Get treatment for drug and alcohol addiction
Get help in situations of domestic violence See page 20.

5
Black adults say they have weighed many factors in
deciding whether or not to have children.

Half or more say the following has been part of their


decision-making around parenting:

Having access to quality, affordable health care


Having access to affordable child care
One in three Black adults (35 percent) has had Having access to affordable housing
brown water come out of their taps at home. The Having access to quality public schools
same proportion (35 percent) has had to boil water Having access to affordable higher education
before drinking it. Nearly three in ten (29 percent) Having access to healthy and affordable food options
have had water coming from their taps that smelled Having access to clean water
unsafe. Slightly more than half (55 percent) of Black Having job opportunities that pay a livable wage
adults say they have experienced one of these three Having opportunities to move up in the workplace
scenarios. Having equal pay in the workplace
The amount of money in savings
See page 27. Over-policing of Black communities
Mass incarceration of Black people
Safety of their neighborhoods
A majority of Black parents (65 percent) says they Having access to higher education
do not want their children to have a similar life to The state of their physical neighborhood, etc.
their own. One in three (34 percent) says they do Being safe from situations of domestic violence
want their children to have a similar life. Being married

See page 24. See pages 25 26.


6
Over-policing is a parenting and reproductive So is mass incarceration. Majorities say mass
issue for many Black adults. Eight in ten Black incarceration damages families (87 percent),
parents of children 18 and older (82 percent) makes it harder to raise children (81 percent),
have talked with their children about what to do has an effect on Black womens health (69
if stopped by police. Majorities say over-policing percent), and takes away Black peoples
damages families (80 percent), makes it harder to choices and freedoms around deciding
raise children (76 percent), and takes away Black whether to be a parent (66 percent). Slightly
peoples choices and freedoms around deciding more than half (55 percent) says they have
whether to be a parent (62 percent). About half considered mass incarceration of Black
(54 percent) says they have considered the over- communities in their decision about whether or
policing of black communities in their decision not to have a child.
about whether or not to have a child.
See page 28.
See page 28.

7
Black mothers of children under 18 are particularly likely to have
been unsafe in their bodies. About six in ten (59 percent) have
experienced sexual assault or pressure. Forty-four percent have been
pressured to have sex when they did not want to. One in three (32
percent) says someone had sex with them without their consent. One
Many Black women have been unsafe in their in four (26 percent) has been made to have sex without a condom.
bodies: experiencing sexual pressure, assault, and More than four in ten (46 percent) could only afford to pay $10 or less
a lack of autonomy. Among Black women in the for birth control if they needed it today.
survey
Seven in ten (70 percent) say they do not want their child(ren) to have
37 percent say someone has pressured them to a life similar to theirs.
have sex when they did not want to
33 percent have the feeling, at least once in awhile, One in three (35 percent) has tried to get health care recently because
that other people feel entitled to their body they thought President Trump and Congress might affect their access
28 percent say someone had sex with them without to care. Three in four (78 percent) feel worried about President
their permission or consent Trump.
20 percent have been made to have sex without a
condom See page 55.
16 percent have been made to have oral or anal sex

Half of Black women (51 percent) has experienced Large majorities of Black adults say a womans ability to control
some type of sexual pressure or force. whether and when she has children is important to her and her
familys financial security. Close to three in four (73 percent) say
See page 31. controlling when and whether to have children is very important to
financial security.

See page 33.


8
Access to abortion, birth control, and comprehensive sex
education do not seem controversial among Black adults. And
About eight in ten Black adults (79 percent) do not want
Roe v. Wade overturned and 86 percent would give support Making sure everyone has access to clean water
to a loved one who decided to have an abortion. Nine in Having access to higher education
ten (89 percent) consider birth control a part of basic health Having equal opportunities to move up in the workplace
care for women and 92 percent agree that a woman should Having access to affordable child care
be able to get coverage for it even if her employer Increasing support for women who face domestic violence
disagrees. A majority (78 percent) sides with young people Decreasing the risk of drug and alcohol abuse in Black
having access to all of the information and education about communities
sex and contraception they need. Improving access to healthy and affordable food options
Protecting the right to vote in future elections without
See pages 37 42. barriers

See pages 43 44.


Many policy priorities are seen as extremely important
to make it a better time to be a Black woman in America
who is free to raise healthy children if she chooses. The Obamas are the most trusted voices on public
policy issues. Of a list of individuals and organizations,
These include Black adults are most likely to trust Michelle Obama (92
percent) and former President Obama (92 percent) on the
Having job opportunities that pay a livable wage
issues that matter most to them.
Making sure neighborhoods are safe
Having access to quality, affordable health care
Having access to quality public schools
See page 46.
Having equal pay in the workplace

9
DETAILED FINDINGS.

Feelings toward Black women


Perspectives on racism Intersections of policy
the political and control over
and public policy issues issues and family
environment their bodies

Views toward
reproductive-related Trusted voices on policy Appendix
Methods + Issue briefs
policies

10
Feelings toward
the political environment.

11
Most Black adults feel the country
is off on the wrong track and are worried
about President Trump.

How are you feeling now about


President Trump?
63% Worried

45% Scared

42% Angry 69% of Black women


56% of Black men
28% Depressed

Do you feel the country is 12% Optimistic

84% 15% 7% Hopeful


3% Relieved
Off on the Heading in 2% Happy
wrong track the right
11% None of these things
direction

12
Many think the Presidents policies
will negatively affect Black people.

In general, do you think President Trumps policies

Will affect Black people Will affect White people

Positively 5% 32%

Negatively 64% 13%

Both positively and negatively 24% 42%

Will not affect (6%) Will not affect (11%)

13
% Who think the Presidents policies will have
a negative effect on the Black communitys ability to

75% 73% 71%


Have access to quality, Have access to Have access to
affordable health care affordable mental affordable child care
health care

Heres how.
Do you think President Trumps 70% 68% 67%
policies will have a positive effect, Have access to affordable Have access to Have access to
negative effect, or no effect on the housing affordable birth control affordable, legal
abortion care
Black communitys ability to
(77% unmarried women)

65% 63% 63%


Keep children safe from Have access to quality Have access to healthy
mass incarceration public schools and affordable food
options
(70% married women)

14
% Who think the Presidents policies will have
a negative effect on the Black communitys ability to

63% 62% 62% 62%


Have job opportunities Keep children safe from Have access to higher Have equal pay in the
that pay a livable wage over-policing education workplace
(72% married women)

62% 61% 61% 60%


Have equal opportunities Feel safe in our Get treatment for drug Vote in future elections
to move up in the neighborhoods and alcohol addiction without barriers
workplace

58% 51% 50% 49%


Raise children Get help in situations of Plan for whether or when Have access to clean
domestic violence to become a parent water
(56% women)
(44% men)
15
Of Black women have tried to get

25% health care recently because they


think President Trump and Congress
might affect their ability to get care.
Some have taken action in
anticipation of new policies.
Of Black women ages 18 to 44 tried

17%
to get birth control recently because
they think President Trump and
Congress might affect their ability to
get care.

16
Perspectives on racism
and public policy issues.

17
Most do not think it is a good time to
be Black in America.

Considering everything, do
you think it is a good time or
a bad time to be a _____ in
America?

% GOOD TIME 69% 61% 18% 12%

White man White woman Black woman Black man

% BAD TIME 7% 8% 45% 59%

% MIXED / BOTH / NEITHER 23% 30% 37% 28%


18
Some say treating Black people with less respect has become
more acceptable; others say less acceptable.

Compared to a few years ago, do you feel it is more or less acceptable


in our society to treat Black people with less respect?

35% 29% 35%


More acceptable About the same as a Less acceptable
now few years ago now

45 to 59 year olds (46%) 18 to 29 year olds (46%)


College degree (45%)
30 to 44 year olds (41%)

19
Do you think systems in our society are

Most see inequities at the core Set up to give Black


people more
of systems in our society. opportunities
2%

Set up for equal


opportunities
Think about the systems in our society, such as school systems, Set up to give
30%
health care, housing, food, banking and the government. White people more
opportunities than
In general, do you think these systems are set up to: give White
Black people
people more opportunities than Black people, give Black people
more opportunities than White people, or give Black and White 67%
people equal opportunities?

College educated (81%)

20
% Yes

80% 78% 78%


Have equal opportunities Feel safe in our Have job opportunities
Do you think to move up in the neighborhoods that pay a livable wage

RACISM
workplace

76% 74% 74%


Have equal pay in the Have access to higher Have access to quality,
affects the Black communitys ability to workplace education affordable health care

73% 73% 73%


Keep children safe from Have access to affordable Have access to quality
mass incarceration housing public schools

21
% Yes
Do you think racism affects the Black communitys ability to

71% 70% 70% 68%


Have enough Keep children safe from Have access to Have access to healthy
neighborhood services over-policing affordable mental health and affordable food
like trash cleanup, streets options
and sidewalks fixed, and
parks taken care of

68% 68% 68% 66% 63%


Vote in future elections Get treatment for drug Have access to affordable Get help in situations of Raise children
without barriers and alcohol addiction child care domestic violence

63% 62% 57% 50%


Have access to affordable, Have access to affordable Have access to clean Plan for whether or when
legal abortion care birth control water to become a parent

22
Intersections of policy issues and family.

23
Do you want your child(ren) to have
a life similar to yours?
Base n =760, parents

College grads (56%)


$60K+ household income (55%)

A majority of parents do
not want their children to No
Yes
34%
have a life similar to theirs. 65%

30 to 44 year olds (77%)


< $30K household income (74%)
Without college degree (70%)
Mothers of children under age 18 (70%)

24
At any time in the past, have any of these things
been part of your thinking or decision-making
about whether or not to have a child?

% Yes

72% 69% 67%


Having job opportunities The amount of money in Having access to higher
that pay a livable wage your savings education
Black adults have weighed
many factors in deciding
whether or not to have a child. 65% 64% 63%
The safety of your Having access to quality Having access to quality,
neighborhood public schools affordable health care

63% 63% 62%


Having equal Being married Having access to
opportunities to move up affordable housing
in the workplace
25
% Yes
Part of my thinking / decision-making to have a child

62% 60% 59% 55%


Having equal pay in the Having access to Having access to healthy Mass incarceration of
workplace affordable child care and affordable food Black people
options

54% 52% 51% 50% 46%


Over-policing of Black The state of your physical Being safe from domestic Having access to clean The right to vote in future
communities neighborhood like trash violence in relationships water elections without barriers
cleanup, etc.

45% 44% 42% 33%


The risk of drug and Having access to Having access to Having access to
alcohol use for the child or affordable mental health affordable birth control affordable, legal abortion
the parent care care

26
1 in 3 Black adults has had
brown water come out of
their taps at home.

55%
YES TO ANY
35% 35%
Has had brown
Has had to boil
water come out
water at home
of the taps at 29% before 50%
home Has had water Say having access to clean
drinking it
that smelled water has been a factor in
deciding to become a
unsafe from the parent.
taps at home
27
Views on over-policing, mass incarceration, and families.
Do you think over-policing of Black people... Do you think mass incarceration of Black people

80% 87%
Damages
Damages families
families

76% 81%
Makes it Makes it harder
harder to raise to raise children
children

65% 69%
Has an effect on Has an effect on
Black womens
Black womens
health 62% health 66%
Takes away Black Takes away Black
people's choices and people's choices and
freedoms around Married men freedoms around
deciding whether to deciding whether to
(79% say mass be a parent
be a parent
incarceration affects
Black womens health) 28
Have you ever talked to your
children about what to do if
82% YES.
Among n = 427 parents whose
stopped by police? children are 18 and older

29
Black womens control
over their bodies.
30
% of Black women who
Base n = 659

37% 34% 33%


Have been pressured Have felt pressure to Have the feeling, at
Many Black women have to have sex when they
did not want to
take part in a sexual
act before they were
least once in awhile,
that other people feel
experienced sexual ready entitled to their body

assault and a loss of


safety and control over 28% 20% 16%
their bodies. Say someone had sex
with them without
Were made to have
sex without a condom
Were made to have
oral or anal sex when
their permission or when they did not they did not want to
consent want to

56% HAVE FACED AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABOVE SITUATIONS.


51% FACED SEXUAL PRESSURE OR FORCE.

31
% of Black mothers of children under 18
Base n = 224

44% 40% 39%


Have been pressured Have felt pressure to Have the feeling, at
to have sex when they take part in a sexual least once in awhile,
did not want to act before they were that other people feel
ready entitled to their body

32% 26% 21%


Say someone had sex Were made to have Were made to have
with them without sex without a condom oral or anal sex when
their permission or when they did not they did not want to
consent want to

64% HAVE FACED AT LEAST ONE OF THE ABOVE SITUATIONS.


59% HAVE FACED SEXUAL PRESSURE OR FORCE.

32
Do you think a womans ability to control whether
or when she has children is an important part of
financial stability for herself and her family, or not?

Most Black adults say Not


important
control over whether or 5%
when to have children is Somewhat
important for a woman important
21%
and her familys financial
stability. Very
important
73%

33
If your or a loved one needed prescription birth control today, how
much would you be able to pay for it, out of pocket? Even if you or
your loved one dont expect to need prescription birth control, please
imagine a situation in which you do and give me your best estimate.
Base n = 268 women ages 18 to 44

Four in ten Black 18% 9% 15% 19% 24% 11%


women ages 18 to 44
could not afford more $0
could not
$1 to
$5
$ 6 to
$10
$11 to $20 $21 to $50 $51 or
more
than $10 for birth afford
anything

control today.
39% 46%
Of mothers of children
say they could under 18 say they could
afford $10 or less afford $10 or less

34
Views toward
reproductive-related policies.
35
Majorities consider a range of reproductive health
care as basic health care services for women.

Do you consider each of the following things part of


basic health care services for women, or not?

96% yes 95% yes 93% yes 89% yes 66% yes

Screenings and Contraception, such


Care for pregnant Screenings and
treatment for sexually as birth control pills, Abortion care
women treatment for cervical
transmitted diseases, diaphragms, IUDs,
and breast cancer
including HIV/AIDS and Depo-Provera
shots

36
Coverage for reproductive health care
does not seem controversial among Black adults.
ATTENDS

92%
RELIGIOUS SERV.
A woman should be able to get birth WOMEN MEN
control through her health insurance, even WEEKLY+

agree
if her boss disagrees with the idea of birth 91% 91% 90%
control.
(77% strongly)

88% Whether she has private or government


funded health coverage, every woman
should have coverage for the full range of 88% 88% 86%
agree pregnancy-related care, including prenatal
(69% strongly) care and abortion.

37
The right to abortion also
79% seems uncontroversial
Attend religious
services once a week
Do not overturn among most Black adults.
or more (69%)
Roe v. Wade

18%
Overturn
Roe v. Wade 89% agree (72% strongly)

Each woman should have the right to make her


own decision on abortion, even if I may disagree
In 1973, the Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision established
with her decision.
a womans constitutional right to have an abortion.
Would you like to see the Supreme Court overturn
its Roe v. Wade decision, or not?
Attend religious services once a week or more
(88% agree; 65% strongly)

38
Lets say a woman has decided to have an abortion.
Would you want the care to

Pressure her to change her mind 17% 80% Be respectful of her decision

Be expensive 16% 81% Be affordable

Not accessible in her community 21% 77% Be accessible in her community

39
Among Black women
Base n = 659

9%
17% Would rather
not say
Say they
have had

86% an abortion
Attend religious
Of Black adults would give services once a
week+ (12%)
a close friend or family
member support if she
had an abortion. (56% a Among Black men
lot; 22% some; 8% a little) Base n = 344

8%
23% Would rather
not say
Say a partner
has had an
Attend religious services once a week or more abortion
(80%; 51% a lot; 23% some; 6% a little) Attend religious
services once a
week+ (26%)
40
Most side with wanting
young people to have
comprehensive sex
education. Attend religious

78%
services once a
week+ (73%)

21%

Teen sexual development needs to be closely Teen sexual development is a normal part of
controlled and giving young people information growing up and the best approach is to ensure
about things like condoms and birth control will that young people have all of the information
only encourage them to have sex too early. and education about sex and contraception
they need.

Which comes closer to your own views?


41
93%
Preventing unintended
pregnancy by using
% YES
birth control
95% 90%
Preventing HIV & other
Abstinence
sexually transmitted
from sex
diseases
92% 85%
Preventing violence in Examples of what healthy
intimate relationships romantic relationships
look like

95% 90% 76%


Preventing Sexual consent Different sexual
sexual abuse orientations
91% 84%
How to help boys Pregnancy options
respect and value including giving birth,
girls as equal adoption, and

Topics to cover in high 88%


abortion
70%
Gender identity,
school sex education.
How to help girls
grow up to feel equal Including what it
and confident means to be
transgender
Switching gears, I have a few questions about 84%
sex education programs in high schools. Do you How to help boys
think a sex education program should cover... be open with their
emotions
42
In your opinion, how important is each of these things to
making it a better time to be a Black woman in America, who
is free to raise healthy children if she chooses?
% Extremely important

73% 73% 72%


Increasing job Making sure Improving access to
opportunities that pay a neighborhoods are safe quality, affordable health
livable wage care

71% 71% 70%


Policy areas seen as Improving access to
quality public schools
Having equal pay in the
workplace
Making sure everyone has
access to clean water

extremely important
for freedom to raise
healthy children. 70% 69% 68%
Improving access to Having equal Improving access to
higher education opportunities to move up affordable child care
in the workplace
43
% Extremely important
To making it a better time to be a Black woman in America,
who is free to raise healthy children if she chooses

68% 67% 65% 64%


Increasing support for Decreasing the risk of Improving access to Increasing affordable
women who face drug and alcohol abuse in healthy and affordable housing
domestic violence Black communities food options

62% 58% 57% 56% 50%


Protecting the right to Making sure Improving access to Getting rid of mass Getting rid of over-
vote in future elections, neighborhoods have affordable mental health incarceration of Black policing in Black
without barriers enough services care people communities

47% 46% 33% 26%


Improving access to birth Getting more Black Improving access to Moving forward on
control women elected to political affordable, legal abortion equality for transgender
office care people

44
Trusted people + groups on policy.
45
Most trusted
Others not as well known:
voices. Michelle Obama (92% trust, 69% a lot)
National Urban League
(65% trust, 25% have not heard of)
Do you personally trust any of
these people or groups to work on American Civil Liberties Union
issues important to you? Barack Obama (92% trust, 67% a lot) (57% trust, 27% have not heard of)

BYP 100 (Black Youth Project)


(52% trust, 42% have not heard of)
NAACP (85% trust, 38% a lot)
Maxine Waters
(49% trust, 37% have not heard of)

Southern Coalition for Social Justice


Black Lives Matter (81% trust, 31% a lot) (43% trust, 46% have not heard of)

Color of Change
(40% trust, 52% have not heard of)

YWCA/YMCA (78% trust, 26% a lot) Southern Poverty Law Center


(39% trust, 51% have not heard of)

Kamala Harris
(33% trust, 56% have not heard of)

46
Appendix.

47
METHODS

More on the AmeriSpeak Panel

48
ISSUE BRIEFS

Data grouped by issue


Some data are repeated across different issue areas

49
HEALTH CARE

Access to quality,
affordable health care

Considers basic health care services for women


74%
Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to
access
Screenings and
treatment for sexually

75%
Believe President Trumps policies Care for pregnant transmitted diseases,
will have a negative impact on the women (96%) including HIV/AIDS (93%)
Black communitys ability to access

Say increasing access is extremely Contraception, such as Abortion care


important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
72% birth control pills,
diaphragms, IUDs, and
Depo-Provera shots
(66%)

(89%) Screenings and


treatment for cervical

63%
Say this has been part of their
and breast cancer (95%)
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child

50
(cont.)

92% 88%
Agree a woman should be able to get Agree whether she has private or government
birth control through her health insurance, funded health coverage, every woman should have
even if her boss disagrees coverage for the full range of pregnancy-related care,
including prenatal care and abortion

Of Black women ages 18 to 44 could


afford $10 or less if they needed birth
control today
39% 81% Want abortion care to be affordable

22% 65%
Of Black adults have tried to get health care recently
Think over-policing of Black people
because they think President Trump and Congress
has an effect on Black womens health
might affect their ability to get care (including 25%
of women and 35% of mothers of children under 18)

Of Black women ages 18 to 44 tried to


get birth control recently because they 17% 69% Think mass incarceration of Black people has
an effect on Black womens health
think President Trump and Congress
might affect their ability to get care

51
BIRTH CONTROL

89%
Considers birth control part of basic
Access to quality, affordable health care services for women
birth control

89%
Agree a woman should be able to get
birth control through her health insurance,
even if her boss disagrees
Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to
access
62%
39%
Of Black women ages 18 to 44 could
afford $10 or less if they needed birth
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the
Black communitys ability to access
68% control today

46%
Of Black women of young children (under
18) could afford $10 or less if they needed

47%
Say increasing access is extremely birth control today
important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise

17%
Of Black women ages 18 to 44 tried to
healthy children if she chooses get birth control recently because they
think President Trump and Congress

42%
Say this has been part of their might affect their ability to get care
thinking or decision-making about

93%
whether or not to have a child Think sex education programs in high
school should cover preventing
pregnancy by using birth control

52
ABORTION
Agree whether she has private or government

88% funded health coverage, every woman should have


coverage for the full range of pregnancy-related care,
including prenatal care and abortion

Access to affordable, legal


abortion care 81% Want abortion care to be affordable

80% Want abortion care to be respectful of a womans decision


Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to access 63%
77% Want abortion care to be accessible in communities

67%
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the

79%
Black communitys ability to access
Do not want Roe v. Wade overturned

33%
Say increasing access is extremely
important to making it a better time to be a

89%
Agree each woman should have the right to make
Black woman in America, who is free to raise her own decision on abortion, even if I may disagree
healthy children if she chooses with her decision

Say this has been part of their


thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child
33% 86% Would give support to a loved one who had an abortion

84% Want pregnancy options included in sex education in


high schools, including birth, adoption, and abortion
53
WOMENS SAFETY &
CONTROL
Base n = 659, women

37% 28%
Have been pressured to Say someone had sex with them without
have sex when they did not their permission or consent
want to

34% 20%
Have felt pressured to take part in Were made to have sex
a sexual act before they were without a condom
ready

Have the feeling other people feel entitled


to their body at least once in a while 33% 16% Were made to have oral or anal
sex when they did not want to

51%
Have experienced sexual pressure or force in
at least one of the above scenarios
(excluding feeling other people feel entitled
to their bodies)
54
BLACK MOTHERS
OF YOUNG CHILDREN
Base n = 224, mothers of children under 18

70% 92%
Do not want their child(ren) to have a life Say a womans ability to control whether and
similar to theirs when she has children is important for her and
her familys financial security (79% very important)

Have been pressured to have sex when


they did not want to 44% 78% Feel worried about President Trump and 65% say
his policies will negatively affect Black people

Have the feeling, at least once in awhile, that


other people feel entitled to their body 39% 77%
Feel the Presidents policies will have a negative
effect on the Black communitys ability to access
mental health care

35%
Have tried to get health care recently
because they thought President Trump and
Congress might affect their access to care
73% Feel the Presidents policies will have a negative
effect on the Black communitys ability to access
birth control
Say someone had sex with them without
their permission or consent 32%
72% Feel the Presidents policies will have a negative
effect on the Black communitys ability to access

26%
Were made to have sex abortion care
without a condom

Could afford to pay $10 or less for birth


control if they needed it today 46% 70% Feel it is extremely important to improve
access to affordable health care in order to make
it a better time to be a Black woman free to raise
healthy children if she chooses 55
PARENTING

Plan for whether or when to


become a parent

Half or more say the following has been part of their decision-
Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to plan 50% making around parenting:

Having job opportunities that pay a livable wage: 72%


The amount of money in their savings: 69%

50%
Believe President Trumps policies Having access to higher education: 67%
will have a negative impact on the The safety of their neighborhood: 65%
Black communitys ability to plan Having access to quality public schools: 64%
Being married: 63%
Having access to quality, affordable health care: 63%
Having equal opportunities to move up in the workplace: 63%
Having equal pay in the workplace: 62%
Raise children Having access to affordable housing: 62%
Having access to affordable child care: 60%
Having access to healthy and affordable food options: 59%
Mass incarceration of Black people: 55%

63%
Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to Over-policing of Black communities: 54%
raise children The state of their physical neighborhood, trash clean up, etc.: 52%
Being safe from situations of domestic violence: 51%
Have access to clean water: 50%

58%
Believe Trumps policies will have a
negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to raise children

56
CLEAN WATER

Access to clean water

57% 35%
Believe racism affects the Have had to boil water at home before
Black community's ability to drinking it
access

49% 35%
Believe President Trumps policies will have Had brown water come out of the taps in
a negative impact on the Black their home
communitys ability to access

70% 29%
Say increasing access is extremely Had water that smelled unsafe come from
important to making it a better time to be a the taps in their home
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses

50% 51%
Say access to clean water has been part Have experienced as least one of these: had
of their thinking or decision-making to boil water at home before drinking, had
about whether or not to have a child brown water come out of taps, or had water
that smelled unsafe come out of taps

57
FOOD HOUSING

Access to healthy,
Access to affordable housing
affordable food options

68% 73%
Believe racism affects the Believe racism affects the Black
Black community's ability to community's ability to access
access

63% 70%
Believe President Trumps policies Believe President Trumps policies will
will have a negative impact on the have a negative impact on the Black
Black communitys ability to access communitys ability to access

Say increasing access is extremely Say increasing access is extremely


important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
65% 64% important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses

59% 62%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child

58
K-12 EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION

Access to quality Access to higher education


public schools

73% 74%
Believe racism affects the Black Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to access community's ability to access

63% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies Believe President Trumps policies will
will have a negative impact on the have a negative impact on the Black
Black communitys ability to access communitys ability to access

Say increasing access is extremely Say increasing access is extremely


important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
71% 70% important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses

64% 67%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child

59
CHILD CARE

Access to affordable child care


AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN UNDER 18
Base n = 224

68% Believe racism affects the Black


community's ability to access
75%
Think the Presidents policies will have a
negative effect on the Black communitys
ability to access affordable child care

71%
Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black
Think improving access to affordable

66%
communitys ability to access
child care is extremely important to
making it a better time to be a Black
Say increasing access is extremely to woman in American who is free to raise

68% making it a better time to be a Black woman


in America, who is free to raise healthy
children if she chooses
healthy children if she chooses

60%
Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child

60
MASS
INCARCERATION

Keep children safe from mass


incarceration

Believe racism affects the


Black community's ability to
do this
73% 69% Say mass incarceration of Black people
has an effect on Black womens health

65% 81%
Believe President Trumps policies will Say mass incarceration of Black people
have a negative impact on the Black makes it harder to raise children
communitys ability to do this

56% 66%
Say this is extremely important to making Say mass incarceration of Black people takes
it a better time to be a Black woman in away Black peoples choices and freedoms
America, who is free to raise healthy around deciding whether to be a parent
children if she chooses

55% 87%
Say this has been part of their Say mass incarceration of Black people
thinking or decision-making about damages families
whether or not to have a child

61
OVER-POLICING

Keep children safe


from over-policing 82% Of parents of children 18 and older say
they have talked to their children about
what to do if stopped by the police

Believe racism affects the


Black community's ability to
do this
70% 65% Say over-policing of Black people has an
effect on Black womens health

62%
Believe President Trumps policies
will have a negative impact on the
Black communitys ability to do this 76% Say over-policing of Black people makes
it harder to raise children

50% 62%
Say this is extremely important to making Say over-policing of Black people takes away
it a better time to be a Black woman in Black peoples choices and freedoms around
America, who is free to raise healthy deciding whether to be a parent
children if she chooses

54% 80%
Say this has been part of their Say over-policing of Black people
thinking or decision-making about damages families
whether or not to have a child

62
RIGHT TO VOTE EQUAL PAY

Right to vote in future Have equal pay in the


elections without barriers workplace

Believe racism affects the Black


community's ability to have this 68% 76% Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to have this

60% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies will Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to have this communitys ability to have this

Say this is extremely important to making


it a better time to be a Black woman in
America, who is free to raise healthy
62% 71% Say increasing this is extremely important
to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
children if she chooses healthy children if she chooses

46% 62%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child

63
FINANCIAL SECURITY

73% Say a womans ability to control whether or when


she has children is a very important part of
financial stability for herself and her family

Have job opportunities that Have equal opportunities to


pay a livable wage move up in the workplace

78% 80%
Believe racism affects the Believe racism affects the Black
Black community's ability to community's ability to have
have this

63% 62%
Believe President Trumps policies will Believe President Trumps policies will
have a negative impact on the Black have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to have this communitys ability to have this

73%
Say increasing this is extremely important Say increasing is extremely important to
to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
69% making it a better time to be a Black woman
in America, who is free to raise healthy
children if she chooses

72% 63%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child

64
ADDICTION VIOLENCE

Treatment for/risk of drug Help/being safe in situations


and alcohol addiction of domestic violence

Believe racism affects the


Black community's ability to
access this
68% 66% Believe racism affects the
Black community's ability to
access help

Believe President Trumps policies will


have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to access this 61% 51% Believe President Trumps policies will have
a negative impact on the Black communitys
ability to access help

67% 68%
Say increasing access is extremely Say increasing access is extremely
important to making it a better time to be a important to making it a better time to be a
Black woman in America, who is free to raise Black woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses healthy children if she chooses

45% 51%
Say this has been part of their Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child whether or not to have a child

65
CITY SERVICES SAFETY

Enough neighborhood services like Feel safe in their neighborhoods


trash cleanup, streets and sidewalks
fixed, and parks taken care of

Believe racism affects the Black


community's ability to have this 71% 78% Believe racism affects the Black
community's ability to feel this

61%
Say increasing this is extremely important Believe President Trumps policies will
to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses
58% have a negative impact on the Black
communitys ability to feel this

Say increasing this is extremely important


Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child
52% 73% to making it a better time to be a Black
woman in America, who is free to raise
healthy children if she chooses

65%
Say this has been part of their
thinking or decision-making about
whether or not to have a child

66
For more information:
Tresa Undem
tresa@perryundem.com

Jennifer Uribe
jennifer@perryundem.com

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