GROUP THREAT AND REGIONAL CHANGE IN ATTITUDES TOWARD AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Using survey data from the GSS 1972-91, the author assesses several po ssible causes of regional differences and temporal change in white rac ial attitudes. The study concludes that (1) support for race-targeted policies has not changed over birth cohorts, (2) changes in individual characteristics explain only a small portion of the decline in tradit ional prejudice over birth cohorts, (3) the influence of education on racial attitudes has been increasing over birth cohorts, and (4) perce ntage black and average per capita income are good predictors of racia l attitudes and explain a portion of the North/South gap and the chang e over time in prejudice.