In 2006, Black People Speak took a survey on general questions for Black America and the results were revealing. View the complete results here. In 2007, we asked Black America more in-depth questions as the social atmosphere has changed from last year, and these results were even more revealing.

To get an understanding of which direction Black America would like to go, we asked questions that give Blacks a solid political, social, and cultural voice on more current issues so there is no misunderstanding as to where Black America stands on any issue facing Blacks or the country in general.

We asked Black America the following questions, more than 166 polled answered:

The problems of Black America continue mostly as a result of which of the following in your opinion (choose two):

• We do not take advantage of opportunities - 29.09%
• Not enough opportunities - 21.82%
• Race discrimination - 28.18%
• Lack of motivation - 18.18%
• None of the above - 2.73%

From the above results, we see that opinion is split as to the causes of Black America's problems. While the majority, 29% believe that we do not take advantage of the opportunities available to us, another 28% believe otherwise, that race discrimination plays a large part in Black America's advancement.

Combined respectively with 21% believing that there is not enough opportunity for Blacks and 18% believing that a lack of motivation has a hand in our hindrance, the mind-set among Blacks is relatively split with a small majority, by a margin of 2.7%, leaning more toward Blacks being hindered from a societal perspective as opposed to our problems being a creation of our own doing.

Overall, this tells us that Blacks do recognize that there is a problem, but which problems they are, which need more attention, and how to overcome those problems is the next strategy in the war to complete liberation.

To gather a better understanding as to from which platform Black America should launch this strategy, we asked:

Do you believe that the issues facing Black America can better be solved through the political process or solved on our own:

• Through the political process - 20.27%
• On our own - 60.81%
• Neither - 9.46%
• No answer - 9.46%

Overwhelmingly, 60% of Blacks believe that our problems can better be solved on our own instead of depending on the political process (20%) i.e. the government, to solve them. No longer can any political pundits suppose that Blacks are too dependant on the government and if such accusations are made in high places, it is obviously false. Which brings us to our next question.

When asked: Are you content with Jesse Jackson and or Al Sharpton representing you as a Black American:

• Yes, I am - 13.51%
• No, I am not - 78.38%
• No answer - 8.11%

Once again overwhelmingly, 78.38% of Blacks are not content with what mainstream America considers today's Black leadership. This means that whatever ideologies upheld by Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, the majority of Blacks in America disagree and desires different, more identifiable, representation.

As stated earlier, the misinformation fed to the public about Black America is just that, and the images representative of Blacks in America are false images, not ones that truly reflect what Blacks think, feel, or believe. To get an understanding of what ideologies are more representative of Blacks in America, we asked the next question, one that many Blacks have to answer at some point in their lives, which is:

Are your activist roots based in the Martin Luther King (Civil Rights) crowd or the Malcolm X (Black Power) crowd:

• King - Civil Rights - 27.40%
• Malcolm X - Black Power - 56.16%
• Neither - 16.44%

According to the results, more than half of Black America 56% considers themselves of the Black Power ideology as opposed to the Civil Rights ideology 27%, (which mainstream America has imposed on Blacks without regard to what we believe). This means that Blacks would rather follow a self-empowerment movement instead of waiting on the actions of Civil Rights groups or the government to equalize the country through integration.

As the social and racial atmosphere of the country changes and times change, Blacks are becoming more aware of a need for a new direction in fighting against racial discrimination. Until that faction of Black America pushes their way to mainstream recognition by moving the old Civil Rights heads out of the way, race discrimination will persist and only get worse.

The next 2 questions asked solidifies a political stance for Black America that mainstream and Black leadership should take into consideration for repositioning the Black political power structure in this country. We asked:

Conservative basically means traditional, Liberal basically means open-minded, which do you consider yourself to be more of:

• Conservative - 18.92%
• Liberal - 28.38%
• In between - 36.49%
• Neither - 16.22%

As a reflection of the past voting records of Blacks, 28% consider themselves as liberal thinkers and doers while 18% consider themselves as conservative thinkers and doers. Recalling the 2004 presidential election, when a small percentage of Blacks turned toward the Republican Party, these results show that in the near future, Blacks will eventually move more toward the right.

Nevertheless, the majority of those surveyed said they are more in between Liberal ideology and conservative ideology, pointing to a new trend in Black thinking, and possible voting habits. In between, short for independent, says that Blacks are taking notice of both party ideologies and gathering together as one on various political issues. We will take a look at some of those issues, but before we do, we will confirm the political stance of Blacks in America.

The next question asks:

White America is currently represented by two different ideologies, the Democrats and the Republicans. What main ideologies do you see representing Black America (Choose two):

• Afrocentric groups - 35.62%
• Civil Rights groups - 19.18%
• The Black church - 16.44%
• Political groups - 4.11%
• Social groups (Frats-Sororities) - 1.37%
• No one - 23.29%

Of those polled, the majority believe that Afrocentric groups represent the current views of Black America, meaning, the Afrocentric mentality is held by more Blacks than the other groups. Almost twice as much as Civil Rights groups, more than the Black church group, or any political or social groups.

Basically, Blacks see themselves as self-identified thinkers (proud to be Black) as oppose to social or group affiliation that may mimic American group/social structure. Furthermore, the second largest percentage polled 23% believes that there is no one in America who holds the views of or represents Blacks as they should be represented.

In the 2006 survey, Black People Speak asked Blacks of their opinion on various social and some political issues that are either directly or indirectly related to Blacks. In 2007, we added to the issues and asked about the most curious question and the most ignored to this day, which is the issues of reparations. So we asked:

Do you believe the US Government owes Blacks reparations for slavery:

• Yes, I do - 74.32%
• No, I do not - 20.27%
• No answer - 5.41%

Actually, this answer should be obvious because there is no dispute. America owes Blacks for their sufferings and the residual effects of it to this day. However, if whites were asked the same question - and many times mainstream media and popular opinion has - the results would be extremely opposite because whites do not feel they have anything to do with the issues facing Blacks today, or they would rather not deal with it or the past.

However, an overwhelming 74% of Blacks believe that reparations are do us as opposed to 20% nea, and 5% no answer. This lifetime may not see the solution to this issue because America continues to reside under the children of the Jim Crow generation. Nevertheless, this generation of whites is willing to offer an apology for slavery and Jim Crow. Thus we asked Blacks how they felt about apologies, and here is what they answered:

Do you believe apologies for slavery make up for any damage done to Black America:

• Yes, it does - 12.16%
• No, it does not - 85.14%
• No answer - 2.70%

As obvious as the last question, Blacks believe that apologies for slavery mean nothing, are senseless, and irrelevant. And according to how Black America feels about its leadership and representation, one would not have to wonder who the Black leaders are that are asking for an apology. Comparing the stats, it would be those in the minority of every question, which contain Civil Rights and political activist, those Blacks who mainstream media profile the most and who are misrepresenting Black America's beliefs.

In various other social issues we asked Blacks about their views on Hip Hop, Abortion, Hispanics migration, and Christianity, and here are the results:

In your opinion, what effect is Hip Hop having on Black youth:

• A positive one - 4.29%
• A negative one - 85.71%
• None at all - 10.00%

Do you believe in abortion:

• Yes, I do - 31.08%
• No, I do not - 35.14%
• It depends - 33.78%

Do you believe the increase in the Hispanic population will eventually help or harm the state of Black America:

• Eventually Help - 13.89%
• Eventually Harm - 26.39%
• A little of both - 44.44%
• No answer - 15.28%

Many believe that Christianity is a European-made religion, what do you believe:

• I believe it is European-made - 32.88%
• I believe it originated from another culture - 50.68%
• I do not know what to believe - 16.44%

Hip Hop
According to the survey questions above, Blacks are showing a stance on issues not reported on or believed by mainstream white America. Contrary to popular mainstream beliefs, a whopping 85% of Blacks see Hip Hop as a negative influence on Black youth yet a negative Hip Hop stigma is attached to Blacks by mainstream society, while it is their own youth (white youth) who value Hip Hop the most.

Abortion
On the issue of abortion, support for abortion has dropped from 5 years ago among Blacks 35% and in general 56%. Thirty-five percent polled do not believe in abortion while 31% polled do and 33% says it depends on the circumstances. As general support for abortion decreases across the nation, so will it decrease among Blacks.

Hispanics
Most Blacks 26% and 44% respectively, realize that the influx of Hispanic peoples whether legal or illegal will either harm our state more or at least make a substantial change in social circumstance. Only 13% believe that it will not have much of a negative impact but will actually help the state of Black America.

Christianity
Church life has always been a large part of the Black structure in America but according to the survey, more Blacks are viewing Christianity as more of a European-made religion as opposed to one began by another culture at another time. This result speaks volumes about Blacks' view of God and their own salvation, but cannot be counted as one that Blacks decided on their own but one which comes as a result of America's view toward the Islamic and other religions.

America has become more and more intolerant of other cultures even in their attempt to diversify the country with other religions, races, and creeds. Since the War on Terror against a nation that is predominantly Muslim, the rest of the world, and its own citizens including Blacks, see America as the sole bearers of the Christian faith, thus discouraging them from the faith and toward another.

Conclusion
Overall, the results of the poll show a striking change in the social, political, and ideological stance of Black America on many direct and indirect issues. The once loyal Black population of America that was taken for granted and sure to vote, think and behave one way is changing, growing, and becoming - or desires to become - more self-sufficient, independent, and empowering of itself away from the traditions of American dependence.

Black People Speak would like to thank all those who participated in the study and hope you participate in the future. Black America has its own mind, views, and power but needs a new direction, new leadership, and a new goal to shoot for. Let us come together and realize that goal by paying attention to the unity among us rather than the division placed there by the oppressor.