A Majority of Americans Across Political Affiliations Believe in the Importance of Observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day

New survey finds that Americans recognize improvements in racial equality since the time of Dr. King

January 11, 2023 – An overwhelming majority of Americans, 84%, agree that it is important for Americans to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Additionally, 74%, believe racial equality has improved since the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to a new survey released by More in Common U.S. The survey also finds large majorities of Americans holding Dr. King in high regard, describing him most commonly as a “leader” (68%) and “brave” (60%).

Although the survey shows strong respect for Dr. King and the holiday honoring him, the results also reveal misperceptions Democrats and Republicans hold toward one another when it comes to the holiday and progress toward racial equality. In general, both sides underestimate how closely aligned their views are toward the holiday and racial progress.

• Democrats think only 38% of Republicans believe it is important to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In reality, 73% of Republicans think it’s important.
• Republicans think that a minority (45%) of Democrats believe that racial equality has improved since Dr. King’s time. In reality, 71% of Democrats recognize racial equality has improved.
  

This perception gap between Democrats and Republicans builds on top of research More in Common released in December, which asked Americans their views on U.S. history, national identity and what they understood of the views of their fellow Americans. Both studies highlight that, despite our misperceptions of one another, the majority of Americans recognize the importance of teaching a history that celebrates our strengths, examines our failures and recognizes that the experiences of minority groups are an important part of our U.S. history.

“National holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day help us remember the people, events and movements that shaped our national identity and to recall how far we’ve come as a nation. There is no doubt Dr. King’s activism played an indispensable role in our collective story,” said Dan Vallone, director of More in Common U.S. “Dr. King’s ability to exact positive change for millions of Americans while navigating a deeply polarized and fraught political environment is admirable and motivating. Our research shows Americans across the political spectrum value his accomplishments and contributions in our continual pursuit of advancing racial equality in our country.

The survey also found common ways Americans who plan to observe MLK Day will do so by listening to one of Dr. King’s speeches, supporting Black-owned businesses and watching movies about Dr. King or the civil rights movement. Black Americans, Democrats and Generation Z are more likely to say they plan to observe the holiday than other groups.

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About More in Common U.S.
More in Common U.S. is a non-partisan research and civic nonprofit that studies the forces pulling America apart, seeking to disrupt polarization and forge a stronger sense of what Americans have in common.