Black Lives Matter cited by Black adults as group thats helped them the most – Pew Research Center
Demonstrators hold Black Lives Matter signs at the Justice for George Floyd march outside the Minnesota State Capitol on March 19, 2021, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)
Around four-in-ten Black adults in the United States (39%) say Black Lives Matter has done the most to help Black people in recent years, far exceeding the share who say the same about other groups or organizations, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
By comparison, around one-in-five Black adults (17%) say the NAACP has done the most to help Black people in the U.S. in recent years and 13% say the same about Black churches or religious organizations. Smaller shares point to the Congressional Black Caucus (6%) and the National Urban League (3%), while 14% of Black adults choose someone else.
The survey provided respondents with a set of answer options and did not specify whether Black Lives Matter was the name of an organization or the broader protest movement. But regardless of how respondents interpreted the term, Black Lives Matter outranked the other entities that were asked about.
The question was part of an October 2021 survey that examined Black Americans views of their position in U.S. society and their attitudes about social change. The survey included Black adults who are single-race, non-Hispanic; those who are multiracial, non-Hispanic; and those who indicate they are Black and Hispanic. It was conducted prior to allegations of financial mismanagement at a foundation that grew out of the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
This Pew Research Center analysis examines Black Americans attitudes about the groups and leaders they see as most helpful and important today. It relies primarily on an online survey conducted Oct. 4-17, 2021, among 3,912 Black U.S. adults, including those who are single-race, non-Hispanic; those who are multiracial, non-Hispanic; and those who indicate they are Black and Hispanic. The survey included 1,025 Black adults on Pew Research Centers American Trends Panel (ATP) and 2,887 Black adults on Ipsos KnowledgePanel.
Respondents on both survey panels are recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. Recruiting panelists by phone or mail ensures that nearly all Black U.S. adults have a chance of selection. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole population. (See our Methods 101 explainer on random sampling.) Here are the questions used for the survey of Black adults, along with responses, and its methodology.
This analysis also includes additional data from other recent Pew Research Center surveys about how the broader U.S. public, including adults and teens ages 13 to 17, see the Black Lives Matter movement. Links to these surveys, including information about the field dates, sample sizes and other methodological details, are available in the text.
The survey highlighted differences of opinion among Black Americans on many questions, including at least to some extent the perceived importance of Black Lives Matter for helping Black people. For example, Black adults who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than those who identify with or lean toward the Republican Party to say Black Lives Matter has done the most to help Black people in recent years (44% vs. 26%). Similarly, almost half of Black adults who describe their political views as liberal (47%) say the same about Black Lives Matter, compared with smaller shares of Black moderates (41%) and Black conservatives (32%).
Among the broader public, a little over half of U.S. adults (56%) say they strongly or somewhat support the Black Lives Matter movement, according to a separate Pew Research Center poll conducted in March 2022. (The March 2022 survey asked about Black Lives Matter as a movement, unlike the October 2021 survey.)
Among U.S. teens, support for the Black Lives Matter movement is higher than it is among adults. Seven-in-ten teens ages 13 to 17 say they strongly or somewhat support the movement, according to a survey conducted in April and May 2022.
The October 2021 survey of Black adults also asked respondents, in an open-ended format, to identify the Black leader they see as most important in the U.S. today.
Three-in-ten Black adults volunteer former President Barack Obama, the nations first Black chief executive, while 8% name current Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black person ever to serve in that role. Around one-in-five Black adults (19%) say they are not sure who the countrys most important Black leader is, while 16% cite someone other than Obama or Harris, including small percentages who name leaders such as current Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, the Rev. Jesse Jackson or the Rev. Al Sharpton.
As is the case in Black adults views of Black Lives Matter, there are partisan differences in perceptions of the nations most important Black leader. Black Democrats are about twice as likely as Black Republicans (35% vs. 16%) to volunteer Obama, while Black Republicans are more likely than Black Democrats (33% vs. 18%) to say they are not sure. Among ideological groups, four-in-ten Black liberals name Obama, compared with three-in-ten Black moderates and around a quarter of Black conservatives (23%).
While there are age differences in Black Americans views on several questions in the Centers recent survey, there are no such differences when it comes to perceptions of Obama as the most important Black leader in the U.S. today. Black adults under 50 are just as likely as those ages 50 and older to volunteer Obama as the most important Black leader: 30% in each group name the former president.
Go here to see the original:
Black Lives Matter cited by Black adults as group thats helped them the most - Pew Research Center
- STATEMENT FROM REV. AL SHARPTON ON GRAND JURY DECISION IN THE DEATH OF NOLAN WELLS - Jackson Advocate - September 26th, 2026 [September 26th, 2026]
- PoliticsNation celebrates 15 years on the air, marking a milestone for Rev. Al Sharpton - MS NOW - September 11th, 2026 [September 11th, 2026]
- LIVE: Rev. Al Sharpton leads voting rights rally marking March on Washington - Shoreline Media Group - September 2nd, 2026 [September 2nd, 2026]
- Al Sharpton Served With Intent to Sue Over Nolan Wells Case: I Welcome the Lawsuit - LAmag - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Attorneys for Nolan Wells friends threaten to sue the Rev. Al Sharpton for defamation - CNN - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Friends of Nolan Wells intend to sue Rev. Al Sharpton for defamation, law firm says - fox10tv.com - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Friends of Nalan Wells could sue Rev. Al Sharpton for defamation - WLBT - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Nolan Wells Friends Intend to Sue Rev. Al Sharpton for Defamation as Tensions Continue to Rise - Yahoo - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Nolan Wells' Friends Send Legal Letter Threatening to Sue Reverend Al Sharpton - TMZ - August 25th, 2026 [August 25th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton offers $50K reward for new information into Nolan Wells death - Scripps News - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton speak before the funeral of Corey Ruiz - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton, Ben Crump use NABJ to call for federal action in Nolan Wells case - CBS News - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, Congressional Leaders to join Nolan Wells' family in call for federal review - WXXV News 25 - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III Announce March On Washington - Cassius Life - August 7th, 2026 [August 7th, 2026]
- Coalition Featuring Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III Announces March On Washington 2026 - sdvoice.info - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton And National Action Network Partner With King Family For March On Washington 2026: Defend The Vote - essence.com - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- (BPRW) Rev. Al Sharpton and NAN Partner With the King Family and Community Organizations for the March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote - Black PR... - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves blames Ben Crump and Al Sharpton for threats, stoking division in Nolan Wells case - TheGrio - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton, The King Family And Civil Rights Orgs Announce March On Washington For Voting Rights - Yahoo - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III Announce March On Washington - NewsOne - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton, The King Family And Civil Rights Orgs Announce March On Washington For Voting Rights - Blavity News - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton & Attorney Ben Crump Hold News Conference on Death of Nolan Wells - C-SPAN - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Parents of Mississippi teen who died meet with Rev. Al Sharpton - CBS News - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Nolan Wells family joins attorney Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton in press conference - WDAM-TV - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Attorney Ben Crump, Al Sharpton call for investigation into death of Nolan Xavier Wells: LIVE - Central Oregon Daily - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Family of Nolan Wells to hold press conference with Ben Crump and Al Sharpton - TheGrio - July 16th, 2026 [July 16th, 2026]
- Insecurity: Rev. Al Sharpton pins down Trumps obsession with Obama - MS NOW - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- MS NOWs Al Sharpton Says Tucker Carlson Saved Himself From Cliff Trump and GOP Are Going Over - Yahoo - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton Says Tucker Carlson Saved Himself From 'Cliff' Trump Is Going Over - Yahoo - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Obama Presidential Center: Rev. Al Sharpton on what it means for the nation - FOX 32 Chicago - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton on the importance of the Obama Presidential Center - CBS News - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- 'We have work to do': Rev. Al Sharpton says progress from Obama's legacy 'cannot go backwards' - Modern Ghana - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Greg Gutfeld: Al Sharpton has no connection to the world unless he tethers it to racism - Fox News - June 10th, 2026 [June 10th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton bizarrely likens Trumps White House UFC event to fights for the slave masters - New York Post - June 10th, 2026 [June 10th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton Makes Wild Comparison Between Trump's UFC White House Event and 'Fights for the Slave Masters' - Yahoo - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Al Sharpton: South Carolina GOP did the right thing rejecting Trumps redistricting push - MS NOW - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton: Whats In The Mueller Report? - MS NOW - May 22nd, 2026 [May 22nd, 2026]
- Rev Al Sharpton gives us the latest on Jussie Smollett - MS NOW - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton: Trump is spitting in the face of Americans struggling under his economy - MS NOW - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- "Rise up and get that shot" says Rev. Al Sharpton in COVID safety approach - MS NOW - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton Invited 10 Potential 2028 Candidates To His Conference And Was Surprised This Contender Seemed To Get The Most Praise - Yahoo - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Democrats State a Show of Respect for Al Sharpton. Really? - Manhattan Institute - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton says killing of Brooklyn toddler is a wake up call - New York Amsterdam News - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Gov. Beshear speaks with Rev. Al Sharpton at New York City convention - WKYT - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton On Three Major Threats to Black Voters in 2026 - The Root - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Mark Kelly, Al Sharpton speak at NAN National Convention - azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton Invited 10 Potential 2028 Candidates To His Conference And Was Surprised This Contender Seemed To Get The Most Praise - Blavity News - April 19th, 2026 [April 19th, 2026]
- Opinion: Misconduct forgotten, grifter Al Sharpton sits in governor's chair - CT Insider - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton on the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr Day - MS NOW - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton On Why The Church Remains A Pillar In The Black Community - NewsOne - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Robert De Niro, Al Sharpton Speak Out Against Trump At No Kings Rally In New York - thehill.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Al Sharpton: We are afraid of the cops and the robbers. - MS NOW - March 28th, 2026 [March 28th, 2026]
- The Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy for man fatally shot by Hartford police - CT Insider - March 28th, 2026 [March 28th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton set to eulogize Stevie Jones after Hartford police shooting - Connecticut Public - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton, Ben Crump expected to attend funeral of man fatally shot by Hartford police - CT Insider - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy at service for man shot and killed by Hartford officer - NBC Connecticut - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The Rev. Al Sharpton to give eulogy for man fatally shot by Hartford police - Stamford Advocate - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton To Eulogize Man Shot 9 Times, Killed By Hartford Police - dailyvoice.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The Rev. Al Sharpton asks NYC to help protect Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan - CBS News - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at Rev Jesse Jackson funeral: 'We didn't come this far to turn around now' - 11Alive.com - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Rev. Al Sharpton on the passing of his mentor, Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson - The Mississippi Link - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Al Sharpton blasts Mike Johnson for refusing to honor Jesse Jackson at Capitol - MS NOW - February 26th, 2026 [February 26th, 2026]
- Spike Lee, Al Sharpton, Mamdani speak on Thanksgiving - LiveNOW from FOX - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Rev. Al Sharpton provides Thanksgiving turkeys in Harlem - amNewYork - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Press Release: Hakeem Jeffries Addresses Medicaid and SNAP Issues on Keepin' It Real Show with Rev. Al Sharpton - Quiver Quantitative - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- After Bust In Coke Sting, Rev. Al Sharpton Tried Helping The Feds Make A Drug Case Against NYC Mob's Joe & Danny Pagano - The Gangster Report - - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Rev. Al Sharpton: SCOTUS voting rights case will have a ripple effect across the U.S. - Yahoo - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Trump Picked the Wrong Enemy With Letitia James Indictment, Al Sharpton Says: This Is All Vengeance | Video - TheWrap - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Trump Picked the Wrong Enemy With Letitia James Indictment, Al Sharpton Says: This Is All Vengeance | Video - Yahoo News Canada - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Trump mocks Al Sharpton with old photo of MSNBC host, calls on FCC to look into his show - Yahoo - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Donald Trump mocks Rev. Al Sharpton while urging FCC to 'look into' NBC's license - Yahoo - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Wants FCC To Target NBC Over Al Sharpton Who Used To Be A 'Major' Fan - Yahoo - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Trump mocks Al Sharpton with unflattering snap and calls for probe into his lowest rated show - New York Post - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump unleashes new FCC threat on NBC in fat-shaming Al Sharpton post that name-checks Tawana Brawley hoax - The Independent - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump calls on FCC to look into Al Sharpton in latest attack on media and free speech - TheGrio - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Donald Trump sets his next FCC attack on Al Sharpton and MSNBC - Entertainment Weekly - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Al Sharpton speaks out after wave of threats target HBCUs, sparking lockdowns and security sweeps - TheGrio - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Al Sharpton speaks out after wave of threats target HBCUs, sparking lockdowns and security sweeps - yahoo.com - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Al Sharpton leads pro-DEI 'March on Wall Street' on anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington - Citizen Tribune - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Al Sharpton leads pro-DEI 'March on Wall Street' on anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington - AP News - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]