A new poll finds the majority of Americans believe racial discrimination is a problem in the wake of two fatal police shootings of black people and the deadly ambush of five police officers in Dallas. 
An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll conducted last week and published Tuesday found 52% of Americans believe racism against black people is an "extremely" or "very" serious problem. An additional 25% said the issue is "somewhat" of a problem. 
The timing of the poll likely contributed to those results, said Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center. 
On consecutive days last week, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, both black men, were killed by police officers in Baton Rouge, La., and Falcon Heights, Minn., prompting outrage after video of the incidents went viral. On Thursday night, five police officers were killed and seven more were injured by a gunman who told negotiators he wanted to kill white police officers in downtown Dallas at a protest against police brutality. 
"Our country has always been fragile along the lines of race," Cohen said. "Events such as those last week often expose that." The poll was conducted online July 4 through Sunday among a national sample of 7,869 adults who say they are registered to vote. Survey questions regarding last week's shooting deaths were conducted Friday through Sunday.

Source: QNA