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Majority Minority by 2042

Posted by: Rea Pañares on Aug 24, 2008

What does it mean to be a "minority" in the U.S. today?Well over one-third of Americans identify themselves as African-American,Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Native American, NativeHawaiian, or Pacific Islander, and together comprise the "minority." But arecent article in the New York Timesreports that by 2042 racial and ethnic "minorities" will make up more than halfof the nation's population. This "majority-minority" shift, as it has beencalled, is coming eight years earlier than previous estimates.

As policy discussions continue through this election cycle,it is important to consider who is part of that conversation. While people ofcolor are steadily becoming the "majority" population, this diversity is notreflected in the nation's leadership. For instance, only 14 percent of ourMembers of Congress and four of the nation's Governors identify as a person ofcolor.This means advocates will play an even greater role in ensuring that the voicesof communities of color are represented at decision-making tables, particularlyas the conversation about health care reform evolves.  

For the Census Bureau's release on the report, clickhere.