The Changing Face Of America
Census Data Reveals Jump In Minority Populations, Particularly Hispanics, And Not Just In Big Cities
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Play CBS Video Video Minorities Become The Majority New census numbers reflect a new reality in America's classrooms -- minority populations are climbing everywhere. Nancy Cordes reports.
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The census bureau has long predicted that whites would drop below 50 percent of the population by the year 2050. Experts say the new data suggest that shift could come far sooner. (CBS)
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Timeline Population Milestones Track the steady increase of the U.S. population since the colonists landed, with the latest key Census Bureau reports.
"The white population, I wouldn't say is fading into the background, but it is becoming the older, less fertile part of the population," says demographer William Frey of the Brookings Institute.
Frey crunched the census data and found huge jumps in the Hispanic population far from the traditional melting pots - up 21 percent in St. Joseph, Missouri; up 17 percent in Scranton, Pennsylvania; and 15 percent in Pascagoula, Mississippi - all in just one year's time.
"You're seeing it everywhere. People are going for jobs," Frey says. "They're going because they want the American Dream."
Whites still make up 66 percent of the population. But their numbers have grown only two percent since 2000, compared to eight percent for blacks, 29 percent for Hispanics and 26 percent for Asians.
"It's tough because we are seen as being either inconsequential or that we're not even really Americans," says Chinese-American writer Helen Zia.
It's forcing school systems to adjust quickly to new fault lines. In Maryland's Montgomery County outside Washington, D.C., the schools went from mostly white in the 1990s to 60 percent minorities today.
Superintendent Jerry Weast dropped class sizes, boosted literacy programs and now sends pamphlets to parents in six different languages.
"If you don't have a plan to accommodate the diversity and the poverty and the language, your community is gonna have a train wreck," Weast says.
The census bureau has long predicted that whites would drop below 50 percent of the population by the year 2050. Experts say the new data suggest that shift could come far sooner.
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.





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See all 117 CommentsPosted by dan_8951 at 02:39 AM : Aug 10, 2008
+ report abuse
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that was straight of mein kampf...the more i see people like you..the more i am glad of this change
I find it odd. Us blind are a minority. Oh yes I am white.
Posted by usuallyhere at 06:50 PM : Aug 08, 2008
I am proud to be an American I am also proud to be 1/4 American Indian (Not indian American) We put ''America'' first, Never last. I am also proud to be a ''Native American'' so we only call ourselves "American" period. I hope this answers your query.
Posted by tiddsanbeer at 07:15 PM : Aug 08, 2008
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! When we whites are a minority, we''ll RISE UP and DEMAND EQUAL SHELF SPACE FOR WHITE FOOD.
Well, except bread is FLUFFIER than tortillas, so we need MORE SHELF SPACE to be EQUAL!
WE NEED TO STICK IT TO THE MAN!!!
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 05:17 PM : Aug 08, 2008
Wait, you get WELFARE????
WHOOPEEEEEEE! That''s more than I''m making now.
9. Get back from break area around four, four thirtyish.
10. Notice computer timed out again. Say "I''m gonna call tech support about this @*%! computer."
11. Start computer again. Call another minority guy while computer is starting up. Talk about sports and minority issues.
12. Get off phone around five thirty, sixish. Notice computer timed out again. Say, "I''ve HAD IT with this @*%! computer!" Make sure you use the same profanity every time, every day.
13. Boss checks on you around sixish. Complain about lousy computer, you haven''t been able to get any work done all day. Ask boss if you''re "on the list" for a promotion. Boss says "You bet, we''re on an initiative to promote more minorities."
14. Boss leaves office six thirtyish. Time to go home!
I CAN''T WAIT to be a minority.
1. Be on Time ...
Posted by six-six-seis at 05:15 PM : Aug 08, 2008
BAHAHAHAHA! Good one!
"Be on time," and all the rest. That''s EXACTLY what it was like when I WASN''T a minority, and I had 15+ years with the company.
The minority guys were more like:
1. Show up for work around tennish.
2. Get a cup of coffee and chat with the other minority guys.
3. Actually put butt in chair around eleven, eleven thirtyish.
4. Turn on computer; while it''s starting up, look at watch and notice it''s lunch time.
5. Get back from lunch around one thirty, twoish.
6. Finish lunchtime conversation about sports and minority issues.
7. Put butt back in chair around threeish.
as a minority in the workforce, provided you get in with a good company.
1. Be on Time and ready to work 10 minutes before you actually have to, this will give your employer less
of an excuse to fire you, or as they put it,
lay you off. and it will show your superior your good work ethic.
2. work twice as diligently as the "Majority"
to get half as far in your career field, its expected
that you as a minority will not get very many
promotions unless you excell in what you do,
or have outstanding dual language skills, this is actually a plus, so take that night class
and neglect your family for a while,
if you have to get a second job to pay for the
classes on weekends.
3. expect to be looked over for promotions quite a bit, and when that happens, dont rock the boat,
it will just be looked upon as being lazy on your part.
4. always be courteous to everyone even if you have a complaint and quite possibly offer solutions,
dont be angry when pushing an issue, stay polite at all times, you dont want to give the impression you dont like your job, you might come in on a monday and find your chair already populated by someone else...
these are just a few timps on surviving as a minority in the workforce.
i hope this helps.....
just doing my part to educate what its like and make it a little easier for your transition...
well im officially welcoming you as a minority.
Welcome Amigo Grouch.
Now I REALLY can''t wait to be a minority, so I can STICK IT TO THE MAN!
that was a great spanish lesson we had....
shall we continue it...
:)
IT''S HAPPENING! NOW IT''S THE "A-WORD!!!!!"
Posted by six-six-seis at 04:34 PM : Aug 08, 2008
What high blood pressure? I''m already picking out a tree to tie my hammock to. Problem is, I have only one tree..
What was it you taught me to say yesterday? Donde esta pendejo, or something like that?
Well, same to you my friend!
everythings already printed in English,
but you have the option of choosing it in spanish.
things are changing, looks like you will go by way of the Dinosaur, dont blame the system blame yourself for not seeing the future and acting to it...
whinning wont get you anywhere but in the doctors office for high blood pressure.
just learn Spanish and get yourself employed,
Quit Whinning already,
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