4‑H teens
& racial injustice survey
New Survey Finds That 83 Percent of Teens Acknowledge That Systemic Racism is an Issue and They Want to be Included in the National Conversation Around Social Justice
National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to gain a deeper understanding of teens perspectives on racism and their opinions on the current protests and social justice movement. The survey was conducted online from July 2 to July 9, 2020 with 1,000 respondents ages 13-19.
Key Findings
- 83% of teens acknowledge systemic racism is an issue in the U.S., causing them to feel angry, overwhelmed and stressed.
- Black and Hispanic teens are much more likely to have experienced mistreatment because of their race, with Blacks being especially likely to fear for their safety.
- Teens are rallying around the issue, with 86% saying they are “proud that people are taking a stand protecting against racism” and two-thirds saying they “need people to hear their voice about racism.” This is particularly true for Black (82%) and Hispanic (76%) teens who are looking to be heard.
- 3 in 4 teens have taken action against racism, either via conversation or demonstration.
- Teens are calling for racism education in school and government reform to create more equal access as avenues for long-term change.
- 82% of teens acknowledge “there is still so much work to be done in the fight against racism, this is just the start.”
- 70% of teens (81% Black) feel encouraged that the current movement and protests will lead to less racism in the U.S.