Changing Demographics

There was a greater number of children born in the United States in 2011 to ethnic minorities than to white families, according to newly-released data.  It is 'early days' yet, but a whopping alteration in the complexion of the country's demographics is well on its way. 


The U.S. Census Bureau was able to determine the social, racial and economic divisions that have altered modern-day America.  White baby-boomers must now be agreeable to paying taxes that will have the effect of ultimately funding the education and welfare of a hugely diverse ethnically younger population.  But isn't that, after all, how America prides itself, as the 'melting pot' of the world community?


In the year to July 2011, according to the figures given, 50.4% of babies born in the U.S. were offspring of visible ethnics.  For Hispanics the breakdown was 26%; 15% black, 5% Asian.  Mixed marriages accounted for the remaining 4.5 %.  And might it not just be possible that with a greater number of ethnics making up a somewhat larger proportion of the aggregate, discrimination will diminish?


Whites currently represent 63.4% of the American population, and are slated to remain a majority of the American population until 2050, when a dramatic shift will take place, with a shrinking portion of the workplace population paying taxes to sustain economic growth.


White American women now present with a median age of 42, in comparison to age 27 for Hispanics, matching the peak age for fertility.  The current situation of a deep polarization of American politics will complicate matters, with the exploitation of differences between people to make political points, rather than celebrating equality of opportunity for the greater good of the country.


"These babies are soon to be filling up our schools, our labour force and transforming the U.S. population as a whole.  It's really children who are at the forefront of racial and ethnic change in the United States.  There's a huge gap in the racial-ethnic composition of the children in the U.S. compared with older adults, who are mostly white", explained a demographer with the Population Reference Bureau in Washington.


Sociologists in the U.S. warn that it is imperative that these children be exposed to a good sound education.  Without higher education opportunities available to them, the workforce will be less competitive on the international scene, unable to match the pressures certain to evolve from emerging economies in Asia.


What that represents is an enormous challenge, requiring a determination to alter perspectives and appreciate values that will allow the new reality to emerge in a fashion that will ultimately benefit the country well into its future.