The nation's first black president has failed to improve race relations, with just 10 percent believing that President Obama has helped to foster a better black-white relationship, according to a new poll timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech.
More frustrating for African Americans is how the president has burst their 2009 bubble of hope that he would do something bold on race.
Rasmussen Reports, in a poll out Thursday, said that right before Inauguration Day 2009, 75 percent of the nation's blacks believed Obama's election signaled a new era in race relations.
Today, said Rasmussen, just 4 percent of African Americans believe black-white relations have improved under Obama.
Whites are similarly disappointed: just 9 percent believe he has fulfilled that dream of improving relations.
It's not all bad. Most believe that race relations have improved since King gave his speech. But that's probably not saying much since the early 1960s saw segregation in many states, including hangings, KKK rallies and efforts to block public school integration.
