WASHINGTON — African-Americans are more optimistic about their financial outlook next year than the general population is, even though they say they’re struggling more with credit-card debt, according to a new poll released Thursday.
In the poll, conducted for radio/television commentator and author Tavis Smiley’s annual State of the Black Union symposium Saturday in Los Angeles, 58 percent of African-Americans said they expect their household financial situation to improve next year, while only 30 percent of the general population thinks that. The survey had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.
Only 16 percent of African- Americans believed their financial situation would worsen next year, while 29 percent of the general population anticipates an economically harsher 2010.
Some think the optimism is rooted in pride and confidence in President Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president.
