Racial and Non-Racial Correlates of Anti-Busing Attitudes in Louisville / John B. McConahay.

The relative strength of racial and nonracial factors in motivating the public's opinion about busing has both theoretical and policy implications. If nonracial, especially self interest, factors are the strongest motives for opposition, then the success of busing, and of school desegregation in general, will depend upon the ability of the American political process to ameliorate the personal, social class, and educational aims of the contending parties. If opposition is rooted in racial or political attitudes, then attempts to adjust the self interest claims of the contending parties will be ineffective, leaving opposition to busing undiminished. This paper describes the results of a public opinion study conducted in Louisville, Kentucky, at the end of the first year of county wide court ordered desegregation. The study examined the correlates of anti-busing attitudes with both racial and nonracial factors. It was found that neighborhood ties, perception of one's own neighborhood schools as superior to others, having children in the public schools, and having children who were bused, were all insignificant in predicting opposition to busing. Racism, however, as demonstrated by the beliefs that discrimination no longer exists, that blacks are making unfair demands and gains, and being accorded undue recognition and respect, was a significant predictor of anti-busing sentiment. (Author/GC)

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