Flashback 1966 (Interlude)

“Louis Harris is one of this nation’s foremost public opinion analysts

His poll takers have tested public sentiment on all the issues

Involving the Black Man and the White Man

Mr. Harris, how much of a change has there been?”

“I think, perhaps, most dramatic is in the area of demonstrations

Where you found, back in 1963, on the eve of the March on Washington

A majority of White people felt that such demonstrations

Could help the cause of Negroes achieving civil rights in this country

Before this summer began, you found it was about 2:1

White people feeling that demonstrations were hurting the Negro cause

At the end of this summer, now we find, in this month of September, 81-19, 4:1

White people think the demonstrations of the Civil Rights Movement hurt the Negro cause”

“What about the so-called ‘White Liberal’”

“Well there’s been a dramatic shift here

Back in 1963, two out of every three White, college-educated, liberal people

Mainly in the North, were in sympathy to the Civil Rights Movement

On the eve of this summer, in May of this year

You found just about 50% of these White Liberals who were sympathetic, a slippage

But at the end of this summer, it’s scarcely more than one in four who feel sympathetic any longer

There’s been a disenchantment among your White Liberals with the Civil Rights Movement”