According to “The Changing State of US Ethnicity,” between 2000 and 2009, the population of the United States increased by an average of 8.8%, with a 10.5% increase in metropolitan regions (“The Demographic Change in the United States”). African Americans made up around 500,000 people in 1750, and 40 million people in 2010 (according to “The Immigration History of the United States”). Racial and ethnic minorities have contributed a remarkable 83% of the population growth over the past ten years, making up the majority of the population growth. As a result of these changes, Blacks today make up around 12% of the country’s population, while Hispanics make up roughly 15%. In the urban areas, the diversity is more distinct with Hispanics and Blacks making about 19% and 14% respectively.
Accordingly, the half of the population in metropolitan areas is non-white or belongs to Hispanic minorities while the seniors make just about 25%. By 2000, the U.S adults holding a 4-year degree stood at 24% rising to 28% with a corresponding 31% increase in metropolitan areas in the year 2008. Among them, 14% were Hispanics, 20% Blacks, 36% Whites, and 50% Asians.
Anthropology is essential to the field of demography, namely in the study of human diversity in the forms of culture and biology as well as the urban foundation. Furthermore, research on these demographics and the forces behind such changes will help anthropologists understand and extrapolate the consequences of the same. Lastly, these transformations will have specific effects: the majority-minority percentage in the future might create a backlash towards immigration will be promoted; age demographics will affect fiscal decisions at all levels of government; education disparities will influence the United States’ ability to compete globally; finally, the demographic changes in income will have the impact on the resilience and the growth of the middle class in the United States.
Works Cited
“The Demographic Transformation of the U.S.” YouTube, uploaded by Brookings Institution, August 2010, https://youtu.be/YQ5u2tV1DtY. Accessed 3 November 2012.
“The Changing State of US Ethnicity.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOeuMymIezg. Accessed 3 November 2012.
