There's More of Us...Head for the 'Burbs!
I'm surprised the Chron's headline didn't read, "Run for your Lives, Latinos Population Tops Other Groups in Harris County!!!" That's right 38.2% of the Harris County population is Hispanic, topping the Anglo population of 36.9%.
I'm not much into these "majority" races since I'm a fan of birth control, particularly among poorer populations who can't afford to have kids or raise them. As the article states:
This historic demographic shift reflects persistent immigration, high birth rates among Latinos and ongoing migration to outlying suburban counties, experts say.
There are facts we need to take into consideration, and the article gives mention to this.
Experts say minority population growth will affect education, health services, the number of minorities elected to political office and have an impact on the city's economic development.
And our very own expert, Klineberg, bolsters that further.
Klineburg noted that 88 percent of the Houston ISD student body is either Hispanic or non-Hispanic black, and 78 percent of students qualify for the free lunch program.
''If Houston's Latinos and African-Americans are unprepared to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century, it is hard to envision a prosperous future for Houston" he said.
And what does the population increase tell us about the political future of Latinos in Harris County?
Obviously, the majority of that population is more than likely undocumented or not-yet-citizens. And what about the citizens? There is still enough of a voting-age population that is eligible to vote and not voting. What will it take for them (us) to notice the political power they (we) possess? And what will it take for a certain progressive political party to realize that a simple demographic shift will not amount to much (not even victories in 2008), if it is not willing to educate and empower prospective voters?
Bottom Line: Infrastructure development is all about politics--the battle over scarce resources. In a democratic society where the majority is supposed to win, it would help if the "majority" had a say in all of this.
Kuff has a good summing up.
I'm not much into these "majority" races since I'm a fan of birth control, particularly among poorer populations who can't afford to have kids or raise them. As the article states:
This historic demographic shift reflects persistent immigration, high birth rates among Latinos and ongoing migration to outlying suburban counties, experts say.
There are facts we need to take into consideration, and the article gives mention to this.
Experts say minority population growth will affect education, health services, the number of minorities elected to political office and have an impact on the city's economic development.
And our very own expert, Klineberg, bolsters that further.
Klineburg noted that 88 percent of the Houston ISD student body is either Hispanic or non-Hispanic black, and 78 percent of students qualify for the free lunch program.
''If Houston's Latinos and African-Americans are unprepared to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century, it is hard to envision a prosperous future for Houston" he said.
And what does the population increase tell us about the political future of Latinos in Harris County?
Obviously, the majority of that population is more than likely undocumented or not-yet-citizens. And what about the citizens? There is still enough of a voting-age population that is eligible to vote and not voting. What will it take for them (us) to notice the political power they (we) possess? And what will it take for a certain progressive political party to realize that a simple demographic shift will not amount to much (not even victories in 2008), if it is not willing to educate and empower prospective voters?
Bottom Line: Infrastructure development is all about politics--the battle over scarce resources. In a democratic society where the majority is supposed to win, it would help if the "majority" had a say in all of this.
Kuff has a good summing up.
posted by Dos Centavos at 6:23 AM
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