THE NATION'S CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
The designation "ethnic minority" will soon be a misnomer. As noted in Figure 1, in 1995, people
of color constituted 26.4% of the nation's population, but soon after the year 2050, this group
will be the majority (U. S. Census, 1995, Table No. 19). This rapid growth in the nation's
populations of color will not be evenly distributed. In fact, most of this growth will occur in the
nation's southern and western regions and in the nation's 40 largest metropolitan areas. This
pattern of growth will result in increased human diversity and increased political polarization. The
needs and concerns of areas experiencing rapid growth in their populations of color will
significantly differ from those of areas without such growth. Increasingly, issues related to
behavioral diversity will gain prominence. To respond adequately to such issues, psychology will
find it necessary to include in its ranks a dramatically enlarged cadre of persons of color and to
ensure that all psychologists demonstrate some minimal level of multicultural competence.
