Researchers at The Ohio State University found that, in general, blacks were slightly more likely than whites to say they really listen to others during political discussions.

 

But in discussions of controversial topics of race – such as white people’s use of the Confederate flag and police treatment of blacks – black respondents were more likely than whites to say that it would be “hard” to truly listen to a cross-race discussion partner.

 

Eveland conducted the study with Ohio State colleagues Professor Osei Appiah and Kathryn Coduto and Olivia Bullock, doctoral students in communication. Their paper was published recently in the journal Political Communication.