Types of symbols cited in question include statues, plaques, memorabilia
ST. LEO, FL – A new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) about Americans’ attitudes about contemporary political topics revealed stark divisions in views about Confederate symbols and history.
The nonpartisan survey was conducted online among 1,000 American adults from September 10 through September 16. A parallel poll was conducted among 500 adults during the same time period in Florida, the home of Saint Leo University and the Saint Leo University Polling Institute.
The survey revisited questions asked in March 2017 on political divisions among the population, and levels of public approval of the new Trump administration (see related press releases) to track views over time. In addition, because of recent controversies in several cities, two questions were added in September on views on the Confederate era and reminders of the Confederacy.
Looking at the country as a whole, about as many people favor removing Confederate symbols from public areas as oppose the idea: a 43.4 percent said they strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with removing Confederate statues, plaques, or memorabilia from public areas. Another 47.7 percent strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed with the idea.
Given the national poll sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points (meaning the results could be off in either direction by that much), the two sides are roughly equal in number.
People polled in former Confederate states reflected the national trend.
A separate and parallel poll of Florida residents also tended to reflect the national pattern.
Within the national poll results, however, more differences are evident in comparing responses of the most populous racial and ethnic groups (The sample is drawn to accurately reflect the racial composition of America). For instance, nearly 66 percent of black or African-American respondents strongly or somewhat agreed with the idea of removing Confederate symbols from public areas, compared to 38.4 percent among white respondents. Among Hispanic respondents, 48.8 percent strongly or somewhat agreed with removing the objects.
A similar pattern emerged when respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement: “Retaining Confederate history is important.” Nationally, 65.6 percent somewhat agreed or strongly agreed, while 25.4 percent strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed. Overall respondents from Confederate state respondents and overall respondents from Florida showed similar levels of agreement or disagreement.
Within the national sample, practically twice as many white respondents–74.1 percent – reported some level of agreement that retaining Confederate history is important as did black or African-American respondents, among whom the combined agreement level was 37.3 percent. Among Hispanic respondents, 56.8 percent strongly or somewhat agreed that retaining Confederate history is important.
The survey presented the questions this way, generating the results shown. (Scroll down to see full charts.)
Q: Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with these statements (or don’t know):
Confederate symbols such as statues, plaques, or memorabilia should be removed from public areas
| Group | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Strongly and somewhat agree combined | Somewhat disagree | Stronglydisagree | Strongly and somewhat disagree combined |
| National sample – all (1,000 people) | 21.8% | 21.5% | 43.4% | 19.4% | 28.3% | 47.7% |
| Nat’l sample – white respondents | 17.6% | 20.8% | 38.4% | 20.7% | 34.1% | 54.8% |
| Nat’l sample – black or African-American respondents | 42.1% | 23.8% | 65.9% | 13.5% | 8.7% | 22.2% |
| Nat’l sample – Hispanic respondents | 27.2% | 21.6% | 48.8% | 13.0% | 23.5% | 36.5% |
| Responses from old Confederate states in the national sample* – across all racial groups | 21.9% | 20.2% | 42.1% | 17% | 30% | 47% |
| Florida sample** –all (500 people) | 23.5% | 20.5% | 44% | 16.7% | 29.7% | 46.4% |
*Old Confederate states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
**The Florida sample was taken separately from the national sample. The Florida responses counted among Confederate state responses are not the same people who answered the Florida survey, which was separate.
Retaining Confederate history is important
| Group | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Strongly and somewhat agree combined | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Strongly and somewhat disagree combined |
| National sample – all (1,000 people) | 31.6% | 34% | 65.6% | 12.3% | 13.1% | 25.4% |
| Nat’l sample – white respondents | 38.3% | 35.8% | 74.1% | 10.6% | 8.8% | 19.4% |
| Nat’l sample – black or African-American respondents | 13.5% | 23.8% | 37.3% | 13.5% | 8.7% | 22.2% |
| Nat’l sample –Hispanic respondents | 24.1% | 32.7% | 56.8% | 9.9% | 17.9% | 27.8% |
| Responses from the old Confederate states in the national sample* – across all racial groups | 34% | 25.9% | 59.9% | 12.6% | 17.4% | 30% |
| Florida sample** – all (500 people) | 35.9% | 29.1% | 65% | 13.5% | 12.4% | 25.9% |
*Old Confederate states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
**The Florida sample was taken separately from the national sample. The Florida responses counted among Confederate state responses are not from the same people who answered the Florida survey, which was separate.
Knowing how people react to symbols is important because symbols can influence the way people see and interpret history, according to Professor Douglas Astolfi, who teaches history at Saint Leo University, including topics in American history to undergraduates. Currently, he said, undergraduates are coming into college without much grounding in history from secondary school, and that is a worrisome sign. Under such circumstances, the importance of symbols is amplified, he said.
“Myths and symbols are the only exposure that many people have to history,” Astolfi said. “People embrace the images and often apocryphal stories that most appeal to them or that satisfy their current world and personal views. With nothing to counter the myths, statues, and other symbols, those representations become the only history people know.”
Astolfi said the demographic breakdowns of the survey response demonstrate that tendency. “We reject the things that make us uncomfortable and embrace the parts of the story that appeal to our prejudices and our own needs. This happens on the right and the left, in the North and in the South and across racial lines,” he said.
Media contacts: Jo-Ann Johnston, Saint Leo University, University Communications jo-ann.johnston@saintleo.edu or (352) 588-8237 or (352) 467-0843 (cell/text).
Mary McCoy, Saint Leo University, University Communications mary.mccoy02@saintleo.edu or (352) 588-7118 or (813) 610-8416 (cell/text).
More About Our Research
METHODOLOGY: The poll sampled opinions of 1,000 approximately proportional to state population contribution nationwide. The survey was conducted September 10-16, 2017. All surveys were conducted using an online survey instrument. The poll has a +/- 3.0 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level on a composite basis.
In Florida, 500 distinct respondents approximately proportional to state population contribution were surveyed also from September 10-16, 2017.The results have a margin for error of +/-4.5% at a 95% confidence level.
The Saint Leo University Polling Institute conducts its surveys using cutting-edge online methodology, which is rapidly transforming the field of survey research. The sample is drawn from large online panels, which allow for random selections that reflect accurate cross sections of all demographic groups. Online methodology has the additional advantage of allowing participants to respond to the survey at a time, place, and speed that is convenient to them, which may result in more thoughtful answers. The Saint Leo University Polling Institute develops the questionnaires, administers the surveys, and conducts analysis of the results. Panel participants typically receive a token incentive—usually $1 deposited into an iTunes or Amazon account—for their participation.
The Saint Leo University Polling Institute survey results about national and Florida politics, public policy issues, Pope Francis’ popularity, and other topics, can be found here: http://polls.saintleo.edu. You can also follow the institute on Twitter @saintleopolls.
About Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University (www.saintleo.edu) is a modern Catholic teaching university that is firmly grounded in the liberal arts tradition and the timeless Benedictine wisdom that seeks balanced growth of mind, body, and spirit. The Saint Leo University of today is a private, nonprofit institution that creates hospitable learning communities wherever students want to be or need to be, whether that is a campus classroom, a web-based environment, an employer’s worksite, a military base, or an office park. Saint Leo welcomes people of all faiths and of no religious affiliation, and encourages learners of all generations. The university is committed to providing educational opportunities to the nation’s armed forces, veterans, and their families. Saint Leo is regionally accredited to award degrees ranging from the associate to the doctorate, and the faculty and staff guide all students to develop their capacities for critical thinking, moral reflection, and lifelong learning and leadership.
The university remains the faithful steward of the beautiful lakeside University Campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, where its founding monks created the first Catholic college in the state in 1889. Serving more than 13,000 students, Saint Leo has expanded to downtown Tampa, to other sites in Florida and beyond, and maintains a physical presence in seven states. The university provides highly respected online learning programs to students nationally and internationally. More than 90,000 alumni reside in all 50 states, in Washington, DC, in three U.S. territories, and in 76 countries.
