More Americans support government benefits for low-income individuals

Support for government benefits for low-income people is increasing among Americans regardless of their political views. A key factor in this shift appears to be the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. Historically, negative stereotypes about welfare recipients, particularly Black people, made it politically risky to advocate for government benefits. However, since the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, research shows that Americans' perceptions of Black individuals have improved significantly. This change in attitude seems to have boosted support for social welfare programs. The percentage of Americans supporting increased spending on these programs has risen by 12% since 2012. Many studies indicate that positive changes in racial attitudes largely explain this increased support. Despite long-standing media portrayals of Black individuals as the primary recipients of government aid, most beneficiaries are actually white. Moreover, attitudes towards racial equality have shifted. In 2012, many Americans believed that racial disparities were due to a lack of effort by Black people. By 2022, this belief had dropped significantly. Research suggests that the Black Lives Matter movement played a major role in this change by raising awareness about racial inequality. The analysis of data from 2012 to 2020 shows that improved attitudes towards Black Americans were the strongest predictor of increased support for welfare programs. Additionally, many Americans now support policies that promote racial equality, unlike in the past when they expressed support only in principle. Republican voters also reflect these changing attitudes, although to a lesser extent. Traditional political strategies that criticized welfare recipients no longer seem effective. Instead, many Republicans are shifting their focus to immigration as a campaign issue. As Republicans face internal conflicts between cutting benefits and responding to their constituents' support for these programs, the future of social welfare policy could become a contentious issue for the party.