The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to have far-reaching health and economic consequences for the American public. But, for many, especially Black and Asian Americans, the effects extend beyond medical and financial concerns. About four-in-ten Black and Asian adults say people have acted as if they were uncomfortable around them because of their race or ethnicity since the beginning of the outbreak, and similar shares say they worry that other people might be suspicious of them if they wear a mask when out in public, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
Black and Asian Americans are also more likely than their white and Hispanic counterparts to say they have been subject to slurs or jokes because of their race or ethnicity, but Asian adults are the most likely to say this has happened to them since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. About three-in-ten Asian adults (31 percent) say they have been subject to slurs or jokes because of their race or ethnicity since the outbreak began, compared with 21 percent of Black adults, 15 percent of Hispanic adults and 8 percent of White adults. This aligns with some reports of incidents of discrimination against Asian Americans since the virus outbreak first emerged in China and then started spreading in the U.S.
At the same time, about half of Black Americans (51 percent) say they have heard expressions of support because of their race or ethnicity since the coronavirus outbreak; about three-in-ten Hispanic (29 percent) and Asian (28 percent) adults say the same. The survey was conducted during a time when demonstrations continued across the country to protest the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police.
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