Washington Post Poll: The legacy of Martin Luther King's 'Dream' speech
This Washington Post poll was conducted among random national samples of 1,001 adults from July 28 – 31 and 88 adults from August 4 – 7 for a combined sample of 1,089 adults. Interviews were conducted among users of both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; among the 187 African Americans the margin of sampling error is plus or minus eight percentage points; among the 743 non-Hispanic whites the margin of sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) of Princeton, NJ.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Martin Luther King gave his famous 'I Have a Dream Speech' at a civil rights march in Washington in 1963. In your view, do you think the United States has fulfilled the vision King outlined in that speech, or don't you think so?
Has not (Vol.) Unfamiliar No
Fulfilled fulfilled with King/speech opinion
8/7/11 34 55 1 10
1/16/11* 48 49 1 2
12/20/09 51 47 1 1
1/15/09 49 49 1 *
4/2/08 34 59 4 3
*1/16/11 and previous CNN.
Among blacks:
8/7/11 36 56 * 7
12/20/09 52 47 0 1
1/15/09 65 35 * 0
4/2/08 35 60 4 4
Among whites:
8/7/11 30 57 2 11
1/16/11 47 50 1 2
12/20/09 50 48 1 1
1/15/09 46 52 1 *
4/2/08 35 58 4 3
1a. (IF NOT FULFILLED) Do you think the United States can eventually fulfill the vision in Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, or don't you think so?
Yes, can eventually No, will not No
be fulfilled be fulfilled opinion
8/7/11 52 39 9
1/16/11* 52 46 3
12/20/09 64 35 1
1/15/09 67 33 *
4/2/08 65 31 3
*1/16/11 and previous CNN.
Among blacks:
8/7/11 48 46 6
12/20/09 66 32 2
1/15/09 84 15 1
4/2/08 63 35 2
Among whites:
8/7/11 52 38 10
1/16/11 56 43 1
12/20/09 61 38 1
1/15/09 65 35 1
4/2/08 68 29 3
2. Thinking about Martin Luther King, Jr. more generally, is his legacy relevant to you today, or not? (IF RELEVANT) Is that very relevant or somewhat relevant?
--------- Relevant -----------
NET Very Somewhat No opin Not relevant No opinion
8/7/11 69 38 31 * 26 5
Blacks 89 75 14 0 8 6
Whites 62 30 32 * 31 3
3. Who do you think is the most important black leader in America?
8/7/11 – Summary table
All Blacks Whites
Barack Obama 47 66 43
Al Sharpton 1 * 1
Colin Powell 3 0 4
Condoleezza Rice 1 0 1
Jesse Jackson 1 2 1
Michelle Obama * 1 *
Oprah Winfrey 2 0 2
Alan West 1 0 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. 7 7 6
Herman Cain 2 0 2
Thomas Sowell * 0 *
Other 7 8 7
No opinion 30 16 33
Compare to: 9/23/87
All Blacks Whites
Jesse Jackson 58 74 55
Harold Washington 2 * 2
Martin Luther King, Jr. 1 1 1
Bill Cosby 1 * 1
Tom Bradley 1 1 1
Andrew Young 1 1 1
Barbara Jordan 1 * 1
Benjamin Hooks * 1 *
Thurgood Marshall * 1 *
Other 5 5 5
No opinion 30 16 33
Compare to: 10/15/83
Blacks
Jesse Jackson 51
Andrew Young 8
Martin Luther King, Jr. 4
Benjamin Hooks 2
Harold Washington 1
Julian Bond 1
Coretta Scott King 1
Coleman Young 1
Other 4
No opinion 27
***END***
* See the results of this poll graphically
* The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: Photos, videos, events, news and full coverage
