Racism and Voting

Interesting video discussing if racism affects the individual you vote for. In the 2008 US Presidential elections an analysis was conducted where 37 out of 50 States where asked in the exit polls if the race of the candidate affected their vote. Unsurprisingly, or surprisingly (you decide) those who answered 'Yes' directed their vote towards the white presidential candidate John McCain.
Some stigma regarding a 'red-neck' voting for an African-American proved partially correct, where states such as Arkansas and Kansas casted their votes to John McCain.

A number of factors affect who individuals vote for such as an individual's Age, the amount of education they have been through, gender and even the ethnicity of your neighbour!. 

Looking at the last point on how the ethnicity of your neighbours affect your political views something I found really interesting was the fact that individuals who lived in a predominately mixed neighbourhood (blacks and whites) and individuals who lived in just same race neighbourhoods (just whites) had similar views on political issues and were not biased.

Take a look below


And another one






As you can see, there wasn't much difference between monoracial neighbourhoods and mixed neighbours.














But look what happens when we ask these neighbourhoods more personal questions!



I found this really interesting. Silver,  designated this to the fact who you are around affect your thinking. Therefore if you are predominately around people of the same race as you you're more than likely to think and do what they do. Simply goes back to the saying ''birds of the same feather flock together''! 

Overall this video was extremely interesting however, I have to admit it the outcomes was kind of predictable.. My next step would probably be to see the root of racism is it learned, is it innate or whatever?

Source: ''Does Racism Affect How You Vote"

http://www.ted.com/talks/nate_silver_on_race_and_politics.html