Poll on youth happiness reveals racial gaps

NEW YORK — From their relationships to their jobs to their money — even from the time they first roll out of bed — young white Americans are happier with life than their minority counterparts.

According to an extensive survey of 1,280 people ages 13 to 24 by The Associated Press and MTV, 72 percent of white youths say they are happy with life in general, compared with 51 percent of Hispanics and 56 percent of black youths.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Martin Carpenter, 21, a black New Jersey resident. “There’s a lot of issues out there for African-American young adults. You can still go to certain places and feel uncomfortable, like you don’t belong there.”

Martin’s feeling about racism, real or perceived, was echoed in the survey. Twenty-eight percent of minorities believe race will hurt them in the quest for a better life. Among white youths, 20 percent think their race will help in getting ahead.

Destiny Brown, 17, a black Virginia high school student, said she has friends who were passed over for work simply because their names sounded different: “I know sometimes your name — people will give you a hard time when you try to get a job.”

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Poll on youth happiness reveals racial gaps
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle