A CNN/Essence Magazine, Opinion Research poll conducted last month found significant differences in the way blacks and whites view issues such as racial discrimination and the presidency of Barack Obama.

Fifty-five percent of black Americans say racial discrimination remains a serious problem, about the same level as it was in 2000. Another 28 percent of blacks see racial discrimination as "somewhat serious." Whites have a significantly different perspective with 17 percent believing discrimination continued to be a very serious problem and 39 percent saying it was somewhat serious.