Google Searches for N-Word Show Racism in Different Areas of the Country

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/google-searches-n-word-show-racism-different-areas-country



A new study suggests that an accurate way to measure one of the most difficult things to gauge—levels of racial bias and prejudice—can be found by looking at Internet searches. Researchers say that by examining the "proportion of Google searches containing the 'N-word'" in areas around the country, they were able to determine which geographic regions have the highest numbers of racist people. (For the record, the study made distinction between the "N-word" ending in "-er" and versions of the word ending with "-a," "-as" or "-az.&quot

According to the study findings, the “greater proportions of Google search queries containing the 'N-word' were concentrated in the rural Northeast and South of the US.” Those areas were also found to have other correlating negative outcomes for African-American communities. For example, areas that showed a “greater level of area racism were associated with an 8.2% increase in the all-cause black mortality rate.” Healthcare and economic opportunity for African Americans were markedly lower than in places where there were fewer N-word searches.

It’s generally difficult to accurately measure levels of racial bias. For starters, in direct polls, people often do not cop to racist attitudes due to the attached stigma. Many people are also unaware that they harbor implicit bias. But Google searches are far more honest, since they reveal private habits, with people frankly expressing ideas and attitudes they would likely hide in public.

Snip


Note: A few friends of mine were discussing what has been going on in NYC, Baltimore, Detroit, LA etc. Areas outside of the deep South. We remembered back in the 70's and 80's after out schools had been desegregated for quite a while, how in Boston they were setting school busses on fire. We just can't remember an occasion in the last 20 years or so of police officers shooting unarmed Blacks. Now it used to happen with blacks being beaten back in 50's and 60's but just can't recall things like what is going on in the north. Is it that the south has faced its racism and dealt with it and the north hasn't? We don't know what the answer is, just waiting on the wise people here to reply.

[romanic]

1. I'm not really surprised.

To see the extend within the east and south in regards to the slur. I think racial relations are strained in mostly urban areas and areas outside of rural parts between racist whites and black people.

[dmr]

2. Would like to see these numbers per capita.

This seems informative, but I would think that the least populated areas would have the least amount of searches. In turn, the greater the population the greater the searches - actually any kind of search.

[Trillo]

3. What about the Baltimore councilman?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026590664

Is it racism when a black person calls another black person or persons "n--gers"? In the context of the Baltimore councilman, he is using the term as derogative, but is it also racist?