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Poll results

Sponsored by: OTELCO

A year ago Tuesday, May 25, a Minneapolis policeman murdered an unarmed Black man, George Floyd. The horrendous act ignited public outrage and a new demand for ending systemic racism throughout the country, including Maine.

Businesses are trying to address racial inequity in their operations and in the state, as Mainebiz reported frequently over the past year. One example was the Solidarity in Action movement, involving over 300 Portland-area companies. But the problem of racism and what to do about it also caused division within the business community.

Have Maine and Maine businesses made progress over the past year in reducing racism?
Yes (51%, 84 VOTES)
No (49%, 80 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: OTELCO

A year ago Tuesday, May 25, a Minneapolis policeman murdered an unarmed Black man, George Floyd. The horrendous act ignited public outrage and a new demand for ending systemic racism throughout the country, including Maine.

Businesses are trying to address racial inequity in their operations and in the state, as Mainebiz reported frequently over the past year. One example was the Solidarity in Action movement, involving over 300 Portland-area companies. But the problem of racism and what to do about it also caused division within the business community.

  • 164 Votes
  • 9 Comments
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9 Comments

  • May 26, 2021

    The first three comments you have published are vey inciteful!
    In a recent discussion, my wife and I, in our late 70's, have agreed that we ae starting to feel racist!
    We have numerous friends of color and never feel any different around them - nor they around us.
    The constant drumbeat of how bad it is for a 17% portion of our population is starting to wear on us!
    Where is the effort of this 17% to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and succeed in the greatest economic opportunity ever created.
    Our recent questioning of our racist feelings are driven by the constant flow of front page news which appears to be another example of a huge entitlement compaign!
    Instead of the constant demands for more, why not follow the pattern of the Jews, Italians, Irish, Asians, and others who by dint of effort became a contributing segment of this great country!

  • Janet Wilson
    May 26, 2021

    The emphasis on equity rather than equality has caused more racial division, not less. We should be aiming for equal treatment, not equal outcomes. I had seen a lot of progress away from racism in my lifetime (60 years), but in the last few years it has gotten worse. When the "experts" advocate discriminating against some people because of the color of their skin, it just causes resentment, division, and more racial tension.

  • May 26, 2021

    Having traveled all over the country, I can say with confidence that Maine is one of the least racist places I have ever visited. The media's constant push that everyone is racist is the source of most of the problem.

  • May 25, 2021

    I think a lot of businesses have made an effort to recognize even subtle forms of racism and address them. Maybe the most significant thing is that we've learned how ingrained racism is in our thinking. It is going to take many years for us to lose the preconceptions developed over generations.

  • Robert Feller
    May 24, 2021

    As compared to what? Systemic racism wasn't here previously and isn't here now so I don't know what sort of progress could be made for a problem that didn't exist previously. The continued discussion does absolutely nothing except continue to stir the pot of identity politics and social justice warriors who in reality have nothing here to complain about. My father told me that life didn't come with a warranty and you only get out of life what you put into it. Continued race baiting serves no purpose and in reality is the working against those who continue to play the race card to make themselves look sympathetic [virtue signaling]. It is time to move on, get back to work, and leave this campaign well behind.