Poll: Minority groups distrust each other

MIAMI, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A poll of blacks, Hispanics and Asians in the United States uncovered a lot of distrust between the three groups.

The survey, described as the first ever to gauge attitudes held by the three largest minority groups, was sponsored by New America Media, a group of more than 700 ethnic newspapers and broadcasters. Sergio Bendixen, a polling expert in Miami, surveyed 1,105 people.

Bendixen learned that members of all three groups have more trust for non-Hispanic whites than they do for members of other minority groups, The Miami Herald reported. He found large percentages hold stereotyped views.

For example, almost half of Asians and Hispanics said they fear blacks because they are responsible for most crime. Just over half of blacks and 34 percent of Asians say Hispanic immigrants are taking jobs from them.

A majority of those polled said most of their social life is within their own ethnic group.

But Bendixen said a 2006 California poll indicated young people in the country's most diverse state are becoming truly color-blind.

''Black and Latino and Asian meant nothing to them,'' Bendixen said.