The public is skeptical about the effectiveness of DEI initiatives – AP-NORC

Report on Perceived Discrimination in the United States and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: July 31, 2025

A recent nationwide poll conducted from July 10-14, 2025, reveals significant challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) within the United States. The findings indicate persistent public perception of discrimination against various racial, ethnic, and religious groups, as well as skepticism regarding the effectiveness of institutional mechanisms like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs designed to promote non-discriminatory practices (SDG 16.b).

Perceptions of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination (SDG 10)

Public perception of discrimination remains a critical barrier to ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities of outcome. The data indicates a shifting but still prevalent view of discrimination against minority groups.

• Black People: 4 in 10 Americans believe Black people face “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of discrimination. This represents a decrease from 61% in April 2021, a period marked by widespread protests for racial justice.
• Hispanic People: 4 in 10 Americans believe Hispanic people face a significant level of discrimination.
• Asian People: 3 in 10 Americans perceive significant discrimination against Asian people, a notable drop from 46% in 2021 when concerns over pandemic-related violence were high.
• White People: 1 in 10 Americans believe white people face a comparable level of discrimination.

Disparities in Lived Experience and Perception

A significant gap exists in how different communities perceive the scale of discrimination, highlighting a major challenge for fostering the inclusive societies called for in SDG 16.

1. Perception of Anti-Black Discrimination: 74% of Black respondents state their community faces a great deal or quite a bit of discrimination, a view shared by only 45% of Hispanic respondents and 39% of white respondents.
2. Perception of Anti-Hispanic Discrimination: Black people and Hispanic people are aligned in their assessment, with 61% of both groups reporting substantial discrimination against Hispanic people. Only 36% of white respondents concur.
3. Perception of Anti-White Discrimination: While overall numbers are low, white respondents (18%) are three times more likely than Black respondents (6%) to believe white people experience significant discrimination.

Discrimination Against Other Groups: A Threat to Inclusive Societies (SDG 10 & SDG 16)

The poll also measured perceptions of discrimination against groups based on religion and immigration status, directly relating to SDG Target 10.2, which calls for the social inclusion of all, irrespective of origin or religion.

• Immigrants without Legal Status: This group is perceived as facing the highest level of discrimination, with 58% of the public agreeing.
• Muslim People: Half of the public (50%) believes Muslim people experience substantial discrimination.
• Immigrants with Legal Status: 4 in 10 people say legally residing immigrants also face a high degree of discrimination.
• Jewish People: Approximately one-third of the public believes Jewish people face substantial discrimination.

Assessment of Institutional Responses: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

The effectiveness of DEI programs—a key strategy for institutions to promote SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10—is viewed with considerable skepticism by the public. This suggests a disconnect between policy implementation and perceived outcomes in reducing inequality.

• A plurality of Americans believe DEI programs do not make a difference in mitigating discrimination.
• Approximately 3 in 10 believe DEI initiatives actually increase discrimination against most racial and ethnic groups, including white people.
• Perceived effectiveness varies by group:
  • 4 in 10 believe DEI efforts are reducing discrimination against Black people.
  • About one-third feel DEI is effective for women (SDG 5), Hispanic people, and Asian people.

Methodological Note

• Poll Conducted By: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research
• Panel: AmeriSpeak® Panel, NORC at the University of Chicago
• Dates: July 10-14, 2025
• Sample Size: 1,437 adults
• Margin of Sampling Error: +/- 3.6 percentage points

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Explanation of Identified SDGs

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The text is entirely focused on the perception of discrimination against various groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, and immigrant status. This directly relates to the goal of reducing inequalities within and among countries.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article’s theme of discrimination and reference to “protests against racial inequality” connect to the promotion of just and inclusive societies. The discussion around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs relates to the policies and institutions designed to combat discrimination.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is explicitly connected when the article mentions the perceived effectiveness of DEI programs in relation to women. It states that about a third of people feel these efforts are “reducing discrimination against women,” linking directly to the goal of ending discrimination against females.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Identified SDG Targets

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

   The article directly addresses this target by providing data on perceived discrimination against people based on race (Black, Hispanic, Asian, white people), origin (immigrants with and without legal status), and religion (Muslim and Jewish people).

2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

   This target is relevant through the article’s discussion of DEI programs, which are policies and actions intended to reduce discrimination and ensure equal opportunity. The public’s skepticism about the effectiveness of these programs is a direct commentary on this target.

3. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

   The article’s core subject—the prevalence of perceived discrimination—underscores the importance of this target. The data on how different groups perceive discrimination highlights the challenge of implementing and enforcing effective non-discriminatory policies.

4. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

   This target is identified through the specific mention that “About a third feel DEI efforts are reducing discrimination against women,” which directly measures a perception related to ending gender-based discrimination.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Identified Indicators

The article, being a report on a public opinion poll, is rich with perception-based indicators that align with the official SDG indicator 10.3.1/16.b.1 (“Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against…”). While the article measures perception of discrimination against others rather than personal experience, the data serves the same purpose of quantifying discrimination.

• Proportion of the population perceiving discrimination against racial and ethnic groups:
  • 4 in 10 (40%) say Black people face “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of discrimination.
  • 4 in 10 (40%) say Hispanic people face “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of discrimination.
  • 3 in 10 (30%) say Asian people face “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of discrimination.
• Proportion of the population perceiving discrimination against religious groups:
  • Half (50%) of the public say Muslim people experience substantial discrimination.
  • Approximately one-third (33%) say the same about Jewish people.
• Proportion of the population perceiving discrimination against immigrants:
  • 58% think immigrants without legal status face discrimination.
  • 4 in 10 (40%) say immigrants living legally in the United States face this level of discrimination.
• Perception of discrimination disaggregated by the respondent’s own race:
  • 74% of Black people say their community experiences a great deal or quite a bit of discrimination.
  • 61% of both Black people and Hispanic people say there is a great deal or quite a bit of discrimination against Hispanic people.
• Perceived effectiveness of policies (DEI programs) in reducing discrimination:
  • About a third (33%) feel DEI efforts are reducing discrimination against women.
  • 4 in 10 (40%) say DEI efforts are reducing discrimination against Black people.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: apnorc.org