Consider this from Yehudi Webster: "Racial classification has been raised to an extraordinary priviliged status in social studies; it has been interpolated and extrapolated to color all social phenomena. Both demographic studies and the popular weeklies predict whites becoming a minority by the middle of the 21st century and proclaim the 'browing of America and an 'Asianization' of America. The two related questions that are not raised are: How will non whites react to the implication that America is 'white'? Will not the preidcation of an impending minority status generate white fears and support for pro-white politicians who promise to look after future white interests? The priviliged status of race in social studies surely fertilizes support for such politicians." Y Webster, Racialization of America. NY: St Martin's, 1992: 31. Rakesh Bhandari Ethnic Studies UC Berkeley > CHANGING U.S. DEMOGRAPHICS > > Widespread concern about intercultural relations is growing due > to the profound changes taking place in the composition of the U.S. > population--changes which are causing the U.S. to become a more > culturally diverse nation than ever before. > > The following are highlights from the work of a few of the researchers > and other education writers who have analyzed and commented on these > demographic shifts: > > * In 1980, five out of six Americans were white; one out of six was > black, Hispanic, or Asian. By 2000, the proportion of whites will > have dropped to two out of three, while the minority proportion > will have doubled to a third. > * The above distinctions mask significant internal diversity. > Hispanics, Asians and immigrant whites come from many different > countries and cultures. > * The white population is both older and less prolific than many > other groups. > * Of the ten countries sending the most new immigrants to the U.S., > five are Caribbean, three are Asian, and one is South American. > The only European source of immigrants in the top 10 is the former > Soviet Union. > * By the year 2000, Hispanics will comprise the largest single > segment of school-aged children in California and throughout the > Southwest. By the year 2020, California's whites will account for > only 40 percent of the state's population. > * "Minorities" constitute the majority of school enrollments in 23 > of the nation's largest cities. > * By the year 2000 more than 50 major U.S. cities will have a > "majority minority" population. > * The school population with limited English proficiency (LEP) has > increased by more than 250 percent in the past decade. Increases > in the number of LEP students are occurring even in school > districts with declining enrollments. In New York City, 35 percent > of public school students speak a language other than English at > home. > > (American Jewish Committee 1989; Banks 1988; Burstein 1989; Gay > 1988; Grossman 1991; Grundy 1992; Parrenas and Parrenas 1990) > > At the same time that the school-aged population is becoming more > multicultural, the teaching profession is becoming more mono-cultural. > In 1985, approximately 88 percent of the U.S. teaching force was > white; by the year 2000 this is expected to increase to 95 percent > (Burstein 1989; Pine and Hilliard 1990; Sleeter 1990). This imbalance, > too, can be a source of intercultural tension, since the values and > teaching/learning approaches of the predominantly white staff can > often work to the academic and social advantage of white students and > to the disadvantage of others (Pine and Hilliard 1990, p. 597). > > >Shawgi Tell >University at Buffalo >Graduate School of Education >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >
