Census news flash: U. S. Hispanics exceed 50 million. And so?

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Virtually all media of any substance carried the news flash: U. S. Hispanics are set to exceed 50 million by the time final figures are declared today, Thurs., March 24, 2011 by the U. S. Census Bureau. Other demographic indices indicate that the Hispanic population has accounted for greater than 50 percent in U. S. population increase from 2000 to date. One in six Americans is projected to be Hispanic when the final figures emerge Thursday. 

Figures do not mean much until they are subjected to debates that are sure to ensue. Having earlier alluded to the likelihood of birth control as a policy option in the not-too-distant future, I shall leave further analysis here open to the floor. What do you foresee happening or not happening from DC and State capitals as a result of this seeming, tectonic shift in U. S. demographics?  

 

 

[Ethan Zuniga]

Panic! from the already grasping & clawing, yelling, kicking & screaming to stay on top Majority(newest minority)

i can hear Rush, Hannity,Ingraham and the rest of the Rights Talking (insert orafice name of choice) preping they're "soft bigotry" arguments try to shape the agenda to Deport, Birth control ... you name it, and the Tea party & Spineless govt. elected officials who want to stay in power will be all too ready to oblige & pander to the loudest yet smallest group that hits the panic button 1st

 
The pressure has been building & resistance to "Nirvana" for all is only going to get louder and uglier for all of us new "majority" ;-( 

that's just my 2 cents

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Interesting, Ethan. It would be worth finding out from those who know what the reaction of the Native Americans was when they became outnumbered by their new neighbors; the Pilgrims and their entourage.

[Bri'on]

2010 Census Data

Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010

 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN AND RACE     

Total population

2000                              2010                                             Change 2000-2010(number and %)          

281,421,906                308,745,538                                27,323,632                 9.7%

 

Hispanic or Latino

2000                          2010                                           Change 2000-2010(number and %)

35,305,818                 50,477,594                                   15,171,776                 43.0%

 

Not Hispanic or Latino

2000                          2010                                           Change 2000-2010(number and %)

246,116,088                258,267,944                                 12,151,856                 4.9%

White alone

2000                          2010                                           Change 2000-2010(number and %)

194,552,774                196,817,552                                 2,264,778                   1.2%

 

[Ethan Zuniga]

Reguardless of how they felt about it, Resistance was met with gun fire & they were out gunned !  it's not happening with guns this time.... or maybe i should say yet!

 one things for sure (its not a hostile take over like the Native Americans experianced)   although  here in Texas & the old spanish/mexican territories "native american" status wasn't given after the land purchase and those native to the land (2nd,3rd & so  generations ) are still just "Mexicans" to the "new minority "

(but the narative will be painted with a large brush as an imgration problem) much like the drug problems of the 80's was an "inner city" problem (soft bigotry code) ;-)

I'm sure we'll hear about it soon, Arizona is not to far back in our rearview mirror...

 

[Shelia Ellis]

Well although you know how many hispanics there are you will never no how many black folks there are. What do you want to happen what do you foresee with this TECTONIC shift and most importantly who's shifting it?

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Extremists have at least one thing in common; they defy skin color!

[Bri'on]

Q:"What do you foresee happening or not happening from DC and State capitals as a result of this seeming, tectonic shift in U. S. demographics?"  

 

A:I foresee nothing happening, According to the census, whites still make up 63.75% (196,817,552/308,745,538) of the population in the United States of America. Yes, the hispanic population grew 15+ Million, so what, it is small in comparision to total population.

 

There are 196+ Million whites, 50+ Million hispanic/latino. There are still over 3X as many white folks according to the census.

 

Where is the threat/alarm?

Whites make up 3x's the population of hispanics, at what rating does this fact register on the Richter Scale of your "TECTONIC shift?"

 

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Bri'on,

Nice analysis. Re-insert the qualifier "seeming" before "tectonic" for scholarly accuracy. I thought you addressed the "and so?" element of the topic. Statistics is like a mirror; lookers sometimes see what they elect to see. Everyone vociferously claims objectivity. Amazing, right?

I agree with your computation. Now, switch your calculator back on. You may find, for example, that Caucasians lost 5.38% in their contribution to overall U. S. population between 2000 and 2010 (say, X). That represents the marginal change in Caucasian share of the U. S. population for X (from 69.13% in 2000 to 63.75% in 2010). Contrarily, the Hispanic bloc gained 3.81% (from 12.54% in 2000 to 16.35% in 2010). For X, Caucasians contributed 8.29% to the increase in total U.S. population; Hispanics, 55.53%. A hundred years in the life of a nation is a bleep in relative terms. Extrapolate the demographic trend over a hundred years or two and draw a mental picture. Democracy is a game of numbers and a driver of many social issues; would it not sound audacious to quietly say "it's all good; everything is kool?"

I have not conveniently forgotten that we have a not-too-distant history of unfairness and cruelty in America (a large part of which is still with us). However, when do we begin to heal as a nation if we insist on seeing everything through color prisms? As usual, the question is for all; regardless of who you are. If I am incapable of feeling what another person feels or may feel, should I not question my basis for judging that other on the issue at stake? 

Even when negative politicization is zeroed out, many economies still invariably analyze demographics for national planning. Estimates projected for July 2011, the world's two most populous countries, China and India, are credited with 1.34 billion and 1.19 billion respectively (Central Intelligence Agency, World Fact Book, 2011). These two have had to deal, and are still dealing, with their population issues. How much longer and how much louder will the murmur grow about our population dynamics before it becomes another hot-button issue for us? Does that matter? Do we make it a case of 'when we get to the bridge, we will cross it?' The point is not simply about placing the Hispanic bloc in the center of the discourse. After all, nothing stops another ethnic group from converting this into another rat race! Or is there?  

[Bri'on]

Yomi Ace,

In 100 or 200 years from now the Hispanic/Latino population is an issue those folks will have to face, in their moment, right now we have to face what's before us. 

 

You mentioned:

"My point exactly, Bro. Mic! We have been stuck on treating symptoms over the last 50 years rather than shifting focus on the actual root cause of our problem; class struggle. At different points in their lives, Will Smith, Oprah, Smiley, Tyler Perry and others might have seen issues more from race perspectives than they do now. Beyond identifying with blackness because that is their heritage, race as an issue is in a distant nth position in their order of priorities."

 

"Your point is on-the-money, Ethan. It is interesting that you write about the prospect of equalizing the mix of races sooner than later. I was thinking a few days ago that some Smart Alec in power might just wake up one day and begin to alert his race to the 'dangers' of allowing other perceived rivals to continue breeding uncontrollably!..."

 

You said we have a class struggle and we should reach nirvana...then 50 million more Hispanic/Latino folks meet your objective. So why the post?

Yomi Ace said:

Bri'on,

Nice analysis. Re-insert the qualifier "seeming" before "tectonic" for scholarly accuracy. I thought you addressed the "and so?" element of the topic. Statistics is like a mirror; lookers sometimes see what they elect to see. Everyone vociferously claims objectivity. Amazing, right?

I agree with your computation. Now, switch your calculator back on. You may find, for example, that Caucasians lost 5.38% in their contribution to overall U. S. population between 2000 and 2010 (say, X). That represents the marginal change in Caucasian share of the U. S. population for X (from 69.13% in 2000 to 63.75% in 2010). Contrarily, the Hispanic bloc gained 3.81% (from 12.54% in 2000 to 16.35% in 2010). For X, Caucasians contributed 8.29% to the increase in total U.S. population; Hispanics, 55.53%. A hundred years in the life of a nation is a bleep in relative terms. Extrapolate the demographic trend over a hundred years or two and draw a mental picture. Democracy is a game of numbers and a driver of many social issues; would it not sound audacious to quietly say "it's all good; everything is kool?"

I have not conveniently forgotten that we have a not-too-distant history of unfairness and cruelty in America (a large part of which is still with us). However, when do we begin to heal as a nation if we insist on seeing everything through color prisms? As usual, the question is for all; regardless of who you are. If I am incapable of feeling what another person feels or may feel, should I not question my basis for judging that other on the issue at stake? 

Even when negative politicization is zeroed out, many economies still invariably analyze demographics for national planning. Estimates projected for July 2011, the world's two most populous countries, China and India, are credited with 1.34 billion and 1.19 billion respectively (Central Intelligence Agency, World Fact Book, 2011). These two have had to deal, and are still dealing, with their population issues. How much longer and how much louder will the murmur grow about our population dynamics before it becomes another hot-button issue for us? Does that matter? Do we make it a case of 'when we get to the bridge, we will cross it?' The point is not simply about placing the Hispanic bloc in the center of the discourse. After all, nothing stops another ethnic group from converting this into another rat race! Or is there?  

[Penguin Board of Directors]

Bri'on,

 

Let me address your quote; viz,

"You said we have a class struggle and we should reach nirvana...then 50 million more Hispanic/Latino folks meet your objective. So why the post?"

 

Nirvana does not mean every household will be equally matched in population, no matter how hard one tries. Even in Socialist PRC (People's Republic of China), every Chinese is not equal. The Nirvana I envisage is one in which egalitarianism and other symbols of a level-playing field are allowed to flourish, not just in word but in deed. As you already know, critical analysis has to use critical reasoning; not just two plus two is four. Two plus two is not always four, unless you assume you are on base 10.

 

 

[Penguin Board of Directors]

@ Bri'on,

 

"In 100 or 200 years from now the Hispanic/Latino population is an issue those folks will have to face, in their moment, right now we have to face what's before us." 

 

Hi Bri'on,

That is one viewpoint and I respect it. But, most people I know also like to take a long-term view of issues; what business people refer to as going-concern. The business of the present generation should not be narrowly focused on the short-term. MLK and others looked far out into the future; that is why we have even managed to be where we are today. And, that is only some 50 odd years ago! From my perspective, the prospect of another 50 years is brighter. We produced a black president in America many years ahead of what the most optimistic baby-boomer could have hoped for. It is too soon to let that slide into the realm of the expected.       

[Ethan Zuniga]

thats right i say "nirvana" where in shear number  equalizes  the chances of not being held back by those in the "majority" = in control , we come from struggle & overcome obsticles (i hope we are smart enough to not let it happen again to others that want the opportunity to flourish)

nirvana= in the purest sense that we will all be free fo strugle & strife an on an equal playing feild

as minorities gaining "equalizing power" i truely hope we are about the betterment for all  and not Payback to the newly ousted. 

That might be pie in the sky- but that pie is what i want for all of us  black,latino,asian,arab, on and on and yes white too..     I truely long for MLK's Dream   and the importance of recognizeing the power

 behind a growing group to help bring that change.  we need to protect that growth because the moment we let them turn us against each other (were screwed)  fighting for the same table scrap that are tossed at us