Confederate Flag
Fall 2000 Texas Poll by Scripps Howard Data Center
Friday, Nov. 10, 2000
Methodology: The Fall 2000 Texas Poll© was conducted Oct. 9-31 by The Scripps Howard Data Center. The Poll surveyed 1,000 adult Texans by telephone in a systematic random sample of active telephone exchanges statewide. Margin of error for whole sample, ± 3 percentage points; slightly larger for subgroups. Responses are given in percentages, rounded to the nearest whole number.
THE QUESTIONS:
1. Do you see the Confederate Flag as a symbol of the history of the South or is it a symbol of slavery and racism?
Fall 2000 % (N=1,000)
History of the South 61
Slavery and Racism 15
Neither 12
Both 1
Don’t know/no answer 11
2. In June, the state removed two plaques bearing symbols of the Confederacy from the building that houses the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals. Do you approve or disapprove of this action?
Fall 2000 % (N=1,000)
Approve 26
Disapprove 46
Neither 15
Don't know/no answer 13
Do you agree or disagree with removing Confederate symbols, such as flags, seals or monuments, from the following public places:
3. Texas state capitol
Fall 2000 % (N=1,000)
Agree 24
Disagree 59
Don’t know/no answer 17
4. All courthouses in Texas
Fall 2000 % (N=1,000)
Agree 27
Disagree 56
Don’t know/no answer 17
5. All public schools in Texas
Fall 2000 % (N=1,000)
Agree 30
Disagree 52
Don’t know/no answer 18
NEWS SUMMARY
Sixty-one percent of Texans view the confederate flag as a symbol of the history of the South and 15 percent see it as a symbol or slavery and racism, according to The Scripps Howard Texas Poll.
Twelve percent view it as neither, 1 percent see it as both and 11 percent don’t know.
The Poll found that Texans generally accept the confederate flag and do not view it as offensive.
But there is clearly a racial divide over the meaning of the Confederate flag.
Among ethnic groups, blacks are most likely to view the Confederate flag as a symbol of slavery and racism -- 37 percent – compared with 18 percent of Hispanics and 10 percent of Anglos. Only 21 percent of blacks view it as a symbol of the South, compared with 40 percent of Hispanics and 72 percent of Anglos.
And older Texans are more likely to view the Confederate Flag as a symbol of the history of the South – 70 percent of those 60 and older – compared with 49 percent of 18-29 year olds.
Regionally, 71 percent of East Texans view the Confederate Flag as a symbol of the history, compared with 65 percent West, 62 percent North, 58 percent Gulf, 56 percent South and 55 percent Central.
In June, state officials removed two plaques bearing symbols of the Confederacy from the building that houses the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals.
Forty-six percent disapprove of that action and 26 percent approve. Fifteen percent neither approve nor disapprove and 13 percent don’t know.
Most Texans also disagree with removing Confederate symbols, such as flags, seals or monuments, from public places. Fifty-nine percent disagree that Confederate symbols should be removed from the Texas state capitol, 24 percent agree and 17 percent don’t know.
Fifty-six percent are opposed to removing Confederate symbols from all courthouses in Texas, compared with 27 percent who agree and 17 percent don’t know.
Fifty-two percent are opposed to removing Confederate symbols from all public schools in Texas. Thirty percent agree with that and 18 percent don’t know.
The Fall 2000 Texas Poll was conducted Oct. 9-31 by the Scripps Howard Data Center. The Poll surveyed 1,000 adult Texans by telephone in a systematic random sample of active telephone exchanges statewide. Margin of error for whole sample is ± 3 percentage points and slightly larger for subgroups.
Ty Meighan
Texas Poll Director
DEMOGRAPHICS OF QUESTIONS
NUMBERS IN PERCENT
| Do you see the Confederate Flag as a symbol of the history of the South or is it a symbol of slavery and racism? |
| |
History of
the South |
Slavery and
Racism |
Neither |
DK |
| TOTAL % |
61 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
| Age |
|
|
|
|
| 18-29 |
49 |
20 |
17 |
13 |
| 30-39 |
50 |
19 |
13 |
16 |
| 40-49 |
61 |
19 |
10 |
8 |
| 50-59 |
66 |
14 |
10 |
9 |
| 60 and older |
70 |
7 |
12 |
11 |
|
| Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
| Hispanic |
40 |
18 |
15 |
26 |
| Anglo |
72 |
10 |
10 |
7 |
| Black |
21 |
37 |
23 |
18 |
|
| Political Party |
|
|
|
|
| Republican |
73 |
8 |
9 |
7 |
| Democrat |
46 |
24 |
16 |
14 |
| Independent |
57 |
18 |
15 |
9 |
|
| Gender |
|
|
|
|
| Male |
61 |
14 |
14 |
8 |
| Female |
60 |
15 |
10 |
14 |
|
| Region |
|
|
|
|
| East |
71 |
11 |
13 |
5 |
| West |
65 |
11 |
16 |
8 |
| South |
56 |
15 |
11 |
15 |
| North |
62 |
16 |
10 |
11 |
| Gulf |
58 |
16 |
12 |
14 |
| Central |
55 |
15 |
17 |
9 |
