Future of Minorities in the United States

¶ … Future of Minorities in the U.S.

The United States can be considered as a melting pot of the world for it comprises diverse nationalities, belonging to the minority groups of the African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and Europeans, from nations worldwide. Though some people among these groups struggle against poverty, and some have successfully built their own living, these groups have basically played significant roles in building what the United States of America is today.

African-American and Hispanic Minorities

Currently, two minority groups prevail largely than the other minority groups in America. These are the African-Americans and the Hispanics. The African-Americans, also called as blacks, originated from the racial groups of Africa, who, centuries ago, were illegally brought to America as slaves. They were made to work and cultivate the fields, particularly in the South, and were considered as properties of the slave-holders. It was only after the Emancipation Proclamation that slavery was abolished. However, this did not bring equality between the blacks and the whites. The African-Americans continued to suffer from racial discriminations in many aspects of their lives such as in employment, education, voting, etc. It was not until the creation of U.S. laws against racial discriminations that the blacks experienced equality and freedom.

The population of the African-Americans continued to grow from the time they started to migrate in America in the 19th century. According to the U.S. Census data, the black population in 1860 was only 4,400,000. This grew to 17,900,000 after a century, and reached to 36,400,000 in 2000, equivalent to 12.3% of U.S.'s total population. Compared to the population growth rate of the white Americans and the total population growth rate of America between 1980 and 1994, the African-Americans had a higher rate of 1.5% than that of the latter which is only 0.9% (Collins, 1996).

Today, African-Americans have achieved much than they used to in the past decades. In terms of education, the percentage rate of blacks that attend school increases. In 1960, only 21.7% of African-Americans completes high school, and only 3.5% has 4 or more years of college. In 2001, these figures grew to 79.5 and 16.1%, respectively, compared to 88.7 and 28.6%, respectively, of the white Americans. Unemployment rate for African-Americans is still higher than that of the white Americans. In 2002, there is 22.7% of blacks in "white-collar" jobs, compared to 31.9% of the whites. Socially, the poverty level of the blacks is higher compared to the whites (blacks: 26%, whites: 9%). Poverty is one factor why African-Americans are more likely to be involved in crimes. They constitute 31% of arrests in America.

The Hispanics, on the other hand, also known as the Latinos, emerged in the U.S. only because of migrations. They originated from diverse Hispanic nations such as Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Migration of the Hispanics to the U.S. mostly occurred during the last 30 years.

The Hispanics constitutes almost 33 million of the total population of the U.S., equivalent to 12.5% of U.S.'s population. This comprises people from diverse Hispanic origins: 66% Mexican, 14% Central and South American, 9% Puerto Rican, 4% Cuban, and other Hispanic origins (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2001). Vincent Schodolski, in his article in Chicago

Tribune, indicates that the Hispanics are considered as the fastest-growing minority group of America, and is estimated to grow into 60.4 million by the year 2020.

Next to the African-Americans, the Hispanics is the second largest minority group in America. Statistically, their living condition is lower than the blacks. Compared to the African-Americans and white Americans, the Hispanics have a lower rate of educational attainment.

Their high school completion rate is 56.5%, and only 11.2% attend 4 or more years of college. Although Hispanics have larger family households, 46% of them live in cities. Compared with 22% and 32% African-Americans and non-Hispanic whites respectively, only 14% of Hispanics are in "white-collar" jobs. Hispanics are more likely to work as laborers than the non-Hispanic whites.