PHOENIX (By Jon Kamman, Arizona Republic) August
20, 2005 - Nearly
four in 10 Arizonans are racial or ethnic
minorities, and the state is heading for a day
when people of color or Hispanic backgrounds
will be in the majority.
Census estimates prepared for release today show
that as of July 2004, Texas became the fourth
so-called majority-minority state, where
minorities predominate. The others are Hawaii,
New Mexico and California.
How soon Arizona is likely to join that club is
a matter of conjecture, but the figures on
minority growth are dramatic.
Since the 2000 census, minority-group newcomers
and newborns have outnumbered non-minorities by
a 3-2 ratio.
The figure reflects not just influxes of
immigrants, but also births to current minority
residents and the arrival of minorities from
other states.
"We eventually will go full circle," said Loui
Olivas, assistant vice president of academic
affairs at Arizona State University. He was
referring to Arizona's Hispanic roots as a
territory owned by Mexico until the mid-19th
century.
"Whether it happens in 2030 or 2040, we know it
will happen in Arizona," Olivas said. "It means
that the population will be so diverse in
cultures and languages that we will be into some
very exciting times."
While state leaders consistently look upon
minority growth as a boon to Arizona, they
acknowledge the strains it places on education
and social services. Democratic Sen. Bill
Brotherton, who represents a minority-dominated
district in Phoenix, said, "The challenge is if
these minorities, especially Hispanics, are not
able to speak English."
Observing that "this is a country of
immigrants," Brotherton said such people "tend
to be go-getters. Over the long haul, they tend
to invigorate our society."
In 1990, the state's minority component was 28.3
percent. It rose to 36.2 percent by 2000, and
stood at 38.9 percent in the mid-2004 survey.
That has meant the addition of roughly 376,000
minority-group members in four years. Meanwhile,
the increase among Whites of non-Hispanic
background totaled about 238,000.
Olivas said all states, and especially those
with rapid growth, face problems in providing
health care, education, financial benefits and
other services to low-income residents, a group
with a large proportion of minorities.
But the emerging strength of minorities in the
workforce "should be sending signals of dollar
signs to companies that want to take advantage
of that growing market," he said.
Senate President Ken Bennett said Arizona's
growing minority population brings "more
opportunities than challenges."
The Census Bureau noted that Arizona and five
other states, Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia,
Nevada and New York, all have populations of
about 40 percent minorities and are candidates
for future "majority-minority" status.
Overall, the proportion of minorities in the
United States rose from 30.9 percent in 2000 to
32.6 percent in 2004.
Reporter Chip Scutari
contributed to this article.
