Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
With the evolution in understanding of race and
ethnicity, it is sometimes diffi cult to choose the right
term to describe an individual or group of people. In this
chapter and in the rest of the textbook, we use the most
precise description as possible. Instead of a generic term
“Hispanic,” if we are talking about a group of immigrants
from Bolivia, we call the people immigrants from Bolivia.
If we discuss a study about Cree Indians in Canada, we
describe the Cree tribe, not a generic term First Nations.
In general references, we use the term “Hispanic” instead
of “Latino” or “Latina” in accordance with a 2008 Pew
Research survey. The survey of Americans who defi ned
themselves as “Hispanic” or “Latino,” found “36% of
respondents prefer the term 'Hispanic,' 21% prefer the
term 'Latino' and the rest have no preference.”
In the United States, 64 percent of the Hispanic pop-
ulation is of Mexican origin, and 9 percent of people who
defi ne themselves as Hispanic are of Puerto Rican descent.
In the 2000 and 2010 censuses, all persons who defi ned
themselves as Hispanic also defi ned themselves by a racial
category. By combining race and ethnicity boxes, statisticians
can still separate the American population into “White, non-
Hispanic” and “everyone else.” According to the data pro-
jections provided after the 2010 Census, the population of
“everyone else” will surpass (in numbers) the “White, non-
Hispanic” population around in 2042 (Table 5.2).
TABLE 5.2
Estimated Percentage of United States Population by Race and Ethnicity until 2050.
In 2000, the United States Census Bureau began to calculate race and Hispanic origin sepa-
rately, allowing people to place themselves in one or more race categories plus one of two
Hispanic origin categories (Hispanic or Non-Hispanic). According to the race categories
provided in the 2010 census estimates, starting in 2042, the “White, non-Hispanic” popu-
lation will no longer be the majority population in the United States.
80
Asian alone
Black alone
All other races
White alone,
Hispanic
White alone,
non Hispanic
60
40
20
0
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
Year of projection
Data from
: United States Census, 2008.
