Younger Minorities Becoming the Majority?

We’ve certainly seen a growing number of stories in recent years about a rise in the minority population of the U.S., but each new statistic seems to drive the point home further: America is becoming more diverse than ever. According to newly released Census figures, blacks, Hispanics and Asians comprise more than half of under-20 populations in one-quarter of all counties across the country. Minorities now account for about a third of the total U.S. population.

Recent figures from the Pew Research Center indicate half of the public celebrates this diversity, with 51 percent saying the growing variety of racial and ethnic groups is good for the country. But a not insignificant 22 percent say it’s either “bad” or “very bad” for the country. Immigration certainly plays a significant role in the sharp rise in minority representation, and public opinion research has shown that most Americans are generally divided on this issue. Whereas four in 10 say immigrants improve food, music and the arts, pluralities say they negatively impact jobs, taxes and the economy. Similarly, the public is split over whether the U.S. should encourage minorities to blend into American culture or maintain their own culture.

Pew has done extensive research on the impact of immigration on population trends; read more about it here.