In a matter of weeks our nation could very well have its first minority president. But findings from a national religious survey by Baylor University suggest one in four white Americans will not support a candidate of color.
"Those white Americans who are in congregations where everybody looks like them … they're much less likely to vote across racial lines," Baylor University Sociology Professor Dr. Kevin Dougherty said.
On the other hand, 84 percent of white Americans have no problem supporting a non-white candidate.
Still, that number is not high enough for some.
"I think 25 percent of people is a lot, considering we're almost in the year 2009," Baylor student Nikita Dharia said.
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Baylor University study
The study shows that white young adults and those with a higher education are more willing to vote for a non-white candidate.
 
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Her fellow classmate, Kim Mabutas, said the survey findings don't surprise her.
"It doesn't really surprise me, sadly. I'll be walking to class or I'll be at the mall and I'll hear a little racial slur," she said.
Pastor Paul Fiske of First Lutheran Church in Waco said his congregation is predominantly white, but he doesn't necessarily agree with the survey.
"Because the survey was taken it probably matters to somebody, and to me it's philosophy and character of a person more than color," Fiske said.
Dougherty said there are other factors that influence a voter's willingness to support a minority other than who you worship with.
The study shows that white young adults and those with a higher education are more willing to vote for a non-white candidate.
"The generation that is just emerging into adulthood now maybe understands race and sees race differently than did their grandparents for example and that, I think, will have positive consequences for race relations in the U.S," Dougherty said.
He does not suggest that all white congregations have a
racist element. But he hopes these findings are a wake up call, that, even in 2008, race is still very much an issue that needs to be explored.
Click this link to download a table of Baylor Religion Survey.
