Whites Now Minority in 1 in 10 Counties

[6souls]

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER 08.09.07, 12:10 AM ET

Popular Videos
Meet The Real Fake Steve Jobs
Driving Volvo's S80
Ultimate Star Payback
Hefner: Playboy's Bunnies Multiply
Working For P. Diddy

WASHINGTON -

Whites are now in the minority in nearly one in 10 U.S. counties. And that increased diversity, fueled by immigration and higher birth rates among blacks and Hispanics, is straining race relations and sparking a backlash against immigrants in many communities.

"There's some culture shock," said Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based research agency. "But I think there is a momentum building, and it is going to continue."

As of 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up less than half the population in 303 of the nation's 3,141 counties, according to figures the Census Bureau is releasing Thursday. Non-Hispanic whites were a minority in 262 counties in 2000, up from 183 in 1990.

The Census Bureau's report has population estimates by race and ethnicity for every county in the nation. They are the first such estimates since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, scattering hundreds of thousands of people.

The biggest changes in were in Orleans Parish, La., home to New Orleans. The share of non-Hispanic whites in Orleans Parish grew from 27 percent in 2005 to 34 percent in 2006, while the share of blacks dropped from about 68 percent to 59 percent.

Many of the nation's biggest counties have long had large minority populations. But that diversity is now spreading to the suburbs and beyond, causing resentment in some areas.

Many Latinos say they see it in the debate over illegal immigration.

In northern Virginia, Teresita Jacinto said she feels less welcome today than when she first arrived 30 years ago, when she was one of few Hispanics in the area.

"Not only are we feeling less welcome, we are feeling threatened," said Jacinto, a teacher in Woodbridge, Va., about 20 miles southwest of Washington.

Woodbridge is part of Prince William County, which recently passed a resolution seeking to deny public services to illegal immigrants. Similar measures have been approved or considered in dozens of communities across the nation. In all, state lawmakers have introduced more than 1,400 measures related to immigration this year, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.

Supporters say local laws are necessary because Congress has failed to crack down on the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. But many Hispanics legally in the U.S. say they feel targeted, too.

"I think across the board all of us feel like we're not welcome," said Jacinto, who was born in the U.S. and volunteers for an advocacy group called Mexicans Without Borders.

Prince William County has seen its Hispanic population more than double since 2000, to nearly 70,000 last year. Non-Hispanic whites account for a little more than half the population, down from about two-thirds in 2000.

Greg Letiecq recently helped form a group to fight illegal immigration in northern Virginia, called Help Save Manassas. The group is named for a city surrounded by Prince William County.

"It's not about ethnicity, it's not about race. It's about lawful behavior versus unlawful behavior," Letiecq said.

Still, he complained that many newcomers eschew American culture in favor of their Latino heritage.

"It's the folks who come in and try to maintain the culture of the country they came from," Letiecq said. "They don't seem to embrace the American culture, the English language, the social norms of American culture."

Nationally, the number of minorities topped 100 million for the first time in 2006 - about a third of the population. By 2050, minorities will account for half of U.S. residents, according to Census Bureau projections.

"I don't think Latinos or any other so-called minority group are seeking to make white people a minority," Jacinto said. "It's just a reality."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/ ... 02042.html

[thestalkmore]

Fucking wetbacks.

[Andarvi]

Wow. The fact that that is even protrayed in a moderately negative light is mind boggling.

http://interactive2.usgs.gov/faq/list_f ... asp?id=785

There are roughly 3100 US counties and they are noting that whites are the minorities in TEN of them? Cry me a fucking river. And thats great the comment about the lack of integration of cultures and what not. "Not even trying to integrate?" Its not so easy as a new immigrant to forget about what you have known all your life and switch to a culture that is not only entirely different but one you feel alienated.

If this topic survives there are going to be a lot of strong opinions in it, i can see it now.

[6souls]

Wow. The fact that that is even protrayed in a moderately negative light is mind boggling.

http://interactive2.usgs.gov/faq/list_f ... asp?id=785

There are roughly 3100 US counties and they are noting that whites are the minorities in TEN of them?

by your numbers it would be more like 310 counties. read the title of the article.

[Demosthenes11]

Wow. The fact that that is even protrayed in a moderately negative light is mind boggling.

http://interactive2.usgs.gov/faq/list_f ... asp?id=785

There are roughly 3100 US counties and they are noting that whites are the minorities in TEN of them? Cry me a fucking river. And thats great the comment about the lack of integration of cultures and what not. "Not even trying to integrate?" Its not so easy as a new immigrant to forget about what you have known all your life and switch to a culture that is not only entirely different but one you feel alienated.

If this topic survives there are going to be a lot of strong opinions in it, i can see it now.

and illegal immigration shouldn't be portrayed in a negative light?
The articles isn't complaining about it, just more of observing the fact and figuring out reasons behind it

[Ace-o-fire]

Sad part is many of the Hispanics come from parents who got in to this country illegally had the kid and are now obligated to stay and raise the child in America. The immigration records don't account for a large number of the Hispanic population boom we have had in the last 20 too 15 years. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I do get pissed when I have to speak Spanish just to get my gas and food, and other little things like that.

I'm all for coming though in legal means to get in to this country, but if they do enter this country illegally, don't expect to get the shirt off my back. They have to earn there keep.

[Deejay]

I'm all for coming though in legal means to get in to this country, but if they do enter this country illegally, don't expect to get the shirt off my back. They have to earn there keep.

lol, how is doing all the jobs everyone else doesnt want to do not fall under the 'earning your keep' category? You act as if they come here and shit all over your lawn or something.

[Remyo]

You act as if they come here and shit all over your lawn or something.

they do sometimes.

[Ace-o-fire]

I'm all for coming though in legal means to get in to this country, but if they do enter this country illegally, don't expect to get the shirt off my back. They have to earn there keep.

lol, how is doing all the jobs everyone else doesnt want to do not fall under the 'earning your keep' category? You act as if they come here and shit all over your lawn or something.

I'm saying that some of them come here expect things from he country as a whole and then they can pay the taxes to give it back.

In short

Pay taxes = You are fine

also just ad a tid-bit My brother and his friend tried to get some money this summer buy mowing lawns and many times they where passes up for landscaper companies hiring day laborers. Just some of the jobs I did not to long ago are getting replaced by people who's only way to get money is to work as a day laborers.

[Jefe]

I'm saying that some of them come here expect things from he country as a whole and then they can pay the taxes to give it back.

In short

Pay taxes = Your fine

also just ad a tid-bit My brother and his friend tried to get some money this summer buy mowing lawns and many times they where passes up for landscaper companies hiring day laborers. Just some of the jobs I did not to long ago are getting replaced by people who's only way to get money is to work as a day laborers.

You're kidding me, right? Didn't you know the vast majority pay taxes (assuming they get checks, which most do) and get nothing in return. Sure, if they have a child, the kid can get, what? 100 bucks worth of food a month, well, woop dee doo (don't forget the bastard is US citizen)?

Edit: did you mean: "pay taxes = you're fine"? I ain't being no grammer nazi, but don't want to misunderstand your statement.

[archibaldcrane]

Don't get too high on your horse about "all they do is work jobs noone else wants, they don't hurt anyone..."

"Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household," said Steven A. Camarota, author of the study. The costs outlined in the report include government services such as Medicaid, medical treatment for the uninsured, food assistance programs, the federal prison and court systems, and federal aid to schools. ... It also pointed out that tax payments by illegal-immigrant households constitute one-fourth those of other households because of low-income jobs.

Until this strain on the economy is largely solved, illegal immigration will continue to be an important problem.

[Demosthenes11]

I'm all for coming though in legal means to get in to this country, but if they do enter this country illegally, don't expect to get the shirt off my back. They have to earn there keep.

lol, how is doing all the jobs everyone else doesnt want to do not fall under the 'earning your keep' category? You act as if they come here and shit all over your lawn or something.

never understood this argument. Somehow, America has always gotten along without illegal cooks, farmers, and laborers. I don't understand why them mowing my lawn should mean we look in another direction regarding the law

[Dusky]

I don't have anything against immigration, or Mexicans. What I do have a problem with is them taking advantage of our country, and costing me and my family money. If they want to live here, then that's fine, just do it legally. I don't even care if they never learn English, that's going to hurt them more than it will me.

Also, besides the fact that they don't pay taxes, they also don't put most of the money they earn back into circulation in this country. At least around where I live (SoCal), alot of the illegals cut living costs by cramming alot of people into one cheap apartment, and send most of the money they make here to Mexico.

[Guyverarmor]

If you wanna come here to America, thats cool, more power to ya, this country was built on Immigrants.... but atleast do It fucking legally. Takes couple of years? then so be It.

[Not Kuno]

I completely hate seeing non-english signs and shit. I live in a (now) korean area and all the signs are in korean with some chinese here and there and it's like.. what are these fucking stores trying to sell? I don't want to even go in any of them because I don't know if they can even speak english to me. I've lived in this neighborhood most of my life and it's like I'm not welcome anymore.

So yeah, I don't care who is really here as long as you speak english and all the signs and shit are english.

[dekamii]

I completely hate seeing non-english signs and shit. I live in a (now) korean area and all the signs are in korean with some chinese here and there and it's like.. what are these fucking stores trying to sell? I don't want to even go in any of them because I don't know if they can even speak english to me. I've lived in this neighborhood most of my life and it's like I'm not welcome anymore.

So yeah, I don't care who is really here as long as you speak english and all the signs and shit are english.

i think they are trying to sell "diversity" in those non-english sign stores. face it especially if you are in NYC, there's going to be immigrants with their non-english signs everywhere you go. maybe that explains why whites are becoming minorities these Counties because all you guys ever do is complain and avoid your problems. instead of complaining, why not try to co-exist with your current community, hell maybe you can even open up their road in learning english.

[Ivve]

I completely hate seeing non-english signs and shit. I live in a (now) korean area and all the signs are in korean with some chinese here and there and it's like.. what are these fucking stores trying to sell? I don't want to even go in any of them because I don't know if they can even speak english to me. I've lived in this neighborhood most of my life and it's like I'm not welcome anymore.

So yeah, I don't care who is really here as long as you speak english and all the signs and shit are english.

i think they are trying to sell "diversity" in those non-english sign stores. face it especially if you are in NYC, there's going to be immigrants with their non-english signs everywhere you go. maybe that explains why whites are becoming minorities these Counties because all you guys ever do is complain and avoid your problems. instead of complaining, why not try to co-exist with your current community, hell maybe you can even open up their road in learning english.

1. Needs less blanket statements about a race of people.
2. Multi-lingual signs motherfucker, do you have it? It's all about presentation; why would I go into a store where I'm reasonably sure that I will have no idea how to communicate with the staff?
3. It's entirely reasonable to expect people in this day and age to at least be able to understand some spanish in addition to their english, but korean/chinese is kind of a tall order. I believe in being a citizen of the world, but why on earth should I be expected to read, understand, and speak everyone else's language when they make no time to learn mine? It goes both ways.

[MF Perm]

It's funny how ignorant people are regarding this issue. You're complaining they aren't paying taxes? These guys are balancing our economy and keep food prices contained by working for 10 cents an hour in meat factories and vegetable / fruit farms and plantations. They also work without benefits or insurance and seasonally migrate to find work.

And seeing as the lists and process to emigrate into the country are in such disarray, peoples applications are being lost left and right, it's taking upwards of 10-20 years for paperwork to be responded to.

Who fucking cares if they come into our country illegally to work shit jobs and balance our economy. You should be grateful for it instead of complaining about shit that doesn't effect you negatively in any way. If farmers and food processing plants were paying Americans based on minimum wage laws with benefits and safety measures, a family of 3 would be spending upwards of $600 dollars at the grocery store because of the terrible politics of our government and the corporate stranglehold on economy.

And the funniest thing is the illegal immigrants don't bitch about a fraction of the shit we do regarding work.

If you're so worried about tax dollars write your congressperson or senator and ask them what they're doing about corruption due to lobbying and pork-barrel spending for special interests. You'll sure see alot more money coming back through the system than worrying about some poor motherfuckers that want to work 18 hour days for a dollar an hour.

[MF Perm]

I completely hate seeing non-english signs and shit. I live in a (now) korean area and all the signs are in korean with some chinese here and there and it's like.. what are these fucking stores trying to sell? I don't want to even go in any of them because I don't know if they can even speak english to me. I've lived in this neighborhood most of my life and it's like I'm not welcome anymore.

So yeah, I don't care who is really here as long as you speak english and all the signs and shit are english.

i think they are trying to sell "diversity" in those non-english sign stores. face it especially if you are in NYC, there's going to be immigrants with their non-english signs everywhere you go. maybe that explains why whites are becoming minorities these Counties because all you guys ever do is complain and avoid your problems. instead of complaining, why not try to co-exist with your current community, hell maybe you can even open up their road in learning english.

1. Needs less blanket statements about a race of people.
2. Multi-lingual signs motherfucker, do you have it? It's all about presentation; why would I go into a store where I'm reasonably sure that I will have no idea how to communicate with the staff?
3. It's entirely reasonable to expect people in this day and age to at least be able to understand some spanish in addition to their english, but korean/chinese is kind of a tall order. I believe in being a citizen of the world, but why on earth should I be expected to read, understand, and speak everyone else's language when they make no time to learn mine? It goes both ways.

Singapore, which is like a small America in Asia, made up of several ethnicities and cultures ranging from Pakistani all the way to Japanese immigrants and citizens has a law that states that ALL business transactions must be in English. It's very interesting because it forces a basic level of commerce. Of course they're much smaller than the US so it's somewhat necessary so the economy doesn't falter. The big reason there are language barriers in this country is because the corporations pander to immigrants and their native tongues. And when you have an immigrant community that is self-sustaining why learn the home language if you never venture outside of that community?

But this is usually only the attitude of first-gen immigrants. All of their children and following generations learn to speak and interact in English which softens the blow considerably, since they usually end up translating for parents etc. But yeah, I think it's shitty for anyone to go to any country and think they don't have to learn the popular language and expect everyone to bow to their needs. It pisses me off to no end to see some spanish family dragging their 9 year old daughter everywhere to translate for them instead of letting her just be a kid and taking the initiative to learn. It's despicable.

[dekamii]

But this is usually only the attitude of first-gen immigrants. All of their children and following generations learn to speak and interact in English which softens the blow considerably, since they usually end up translating for parents etc. But yeah, I think it's shitty for anyone to go to any country and think they don't have to learn the popular language and expect everyone to bow to their needs. It pisses me off to no end to see some spanish family dragging their 9 year old daughter everywhere to translate for them instead of letting her just be a kid and taking the initiative to learn. It's despicable.

most of these immigrants don't have the time to learn english. the condition they work under doesn't allow them to learn english. try telling factory workers or farmers to learn english and see what they tell you. imagine yourself working a full time 9-5 job and then you have to learn a foreign language.

also, most of the immigrants don't have a good paying job when first they come here because they don't know english. that's why you see so many of these non-english sign stores because it is their only way to start a business without knowing any english. how do you expect them to learn english and take care of their family when they are working in factories or farms with a low paying rate. most of these parents don't really care what the fuck you think about them, they are only here for their children's future.