Historical Data on Global Attitudes about US Race Relations (1957-1972)

During the Civil Rights Movement and in the middle of the Cold War, the United States government was concerned about how international awareness of the segregation and oppression of Black Americans might damage the country’s global standing. In a series of surveys, the United States Information Agency asked respondents about their awareness of events and their perception of the treatment of Black Americans. Datasets and reports from these studies are available and provide a unique perspective on Civil Rights era U.S. race relations.

USIA Reports:

“Public Reactions to Little Rock in Major World Capitals”, UK, France, West Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Greece, India, Japan, Mexico, 1957, R712.

“A Survey of Negro-White Relations,” Japan, 1957, R277A

“Public Opinion in France: The Negro in America,” France, 1958, R163

“African Students in the US I: Basic Attitudes and Aspirations, and Reactions to US Experiences,” US, 1963, R701

“Delhi Reactions to Race Relations in the US,” India, 1963, R694

“Rio de Janeiro Looks at Birmingham: The Impact of Race Trouble in the US on Public Relations in Rio de Jaineiro,” Brazil, 1963, R219

“European Opinions of Race Relations in America,” UK, West Germany, France, Italy, 1964, R498

world opinions of US after little rock 1957

Example of a USIA Chart from “Public Reactions to Little Rock in Major World Capitals”,
UK, France, West Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark,
Greece, India, Japan, Mexico, 1957, #R712.

Datasets:

Roper Center members can download datasets through the Roper iPoll digital archive. The Roper Center is also making this data available to non-members free of charge. Contact Data Services to request files.

USIA/SSL | Poll # USIA1956-XX07, UK, and GMUSIA1956-XX07, Germany, 1956

USIA Poll # 1957-XX10: International Survey, France, 1957

USIA World Survey 2 Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Philippines, UK, Venzuela, 1964

USIA World Survey 3 Brazil, Chile, France, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, UK, 1965

USIA Poll Western European Survey Rider 3 France, Germany, UK, 1967

USIA Poll Western European Survey Rider 4 France, Germany, Italy, 1967

USIA Poll World Survey 4 France, Germany, Greece (greater Athens), Italy, Sweden, 1969-1970

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