Black millennials are more optimistic than Hispanic, Asian and White people of the same generation, according to a new study from Hispanic marketing agency Richards/Lerma.
The study found that 61 percent of Black Americans aged 18-34 are “very optimistic” or “optimistic” about the future, compared to 54 percent of Hispanic American millennials, 54 percent of Asian American millennials and 50 percent of White American millennials.
The data surprised the researchers.
“The data reached out and smacked us with untold cultural stories that challenge popular notions about each race and ethnicity,” they wrote in the report.
Additionally, Black millennials put more faith in the American dream, with 59 percent agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement, “I believe anyone can achieve their dreams if they try hard enough.” Among Hispanics, that statement got 56 percent agreement; 55 percent of Asians agreed as did only 46 percent of whites.
Even so, most Black millennials still put race issues at the top of their list of political priorities, with 54 percent naming that as the most important political issue. Similarly 51 percent of Hispanic millennials put race as their top political priority. For Asian American millennials, the economy was the most important issue (53 percent) and for white millennials it’s debt and spending (47 percent).
A quantitative online study was conducted in April 2016, and consisted of a national sample of White, Hispanic, African-American, and Asian 18- to 34-year-olds.
A series of qualitative one-on-one interviews, conducted shortly after, provided additional context. The research was a collaboration between Richards/Lerma and The University of Texas at Austin, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations.
