The Role of Big Data in Prejudices

Bigoted attitudes have been in steady decline for decades on such issues as interracial marriage, women's rights, and gay marriage. Conservatives today are more socially liberal than liberals were in the 1950s. In some states, there were more searches for Nigger president than first black president. The difference between public polls and private thoughts helps explain Obama's underperformance in those regions and partially illuminates the surprise election of Donald Trump.