State stagnant, but grows more diverse
Source: The Detroit News
By: Mike Wilkinson
Published: Thursday, May 17, 2007
For most of this decade, Michigan's anemic growth in population has been fueled entirely by minorities, with every one of the state's 140,000 additional residents either Hispanic, Asian, black or other minority.
Census figures released today also show that the white population in Michigan dropped for the second year in a row, leading to the state's first overall drop in population since the early 1980s.
The census estimates, drawn from birth, death and migration data, paint a picture of a more diverse state, mirroring changes across the country.
Nationwide, the Hispanic population surged by nearly 7 million since 2000, and minorities now comprise nearly a third of the country, with more than 100 million residents.
"There is a trend that metropolitan areas have the greatest amount of diversity," said state demographer Ken Darga. "And almost every part of the state has diversity."
That diversity may stress already strained race relations. Southeastern Michigan is the nation's most segregated region and solving racial discord is considered crucial to Metro Detroit's revival.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a teaching psychiatrist at Harvard University and an expert on race relations, cautioned that the initial reaction to a growing minority community can be flight as the majority population feels threatened.
"Often there is not acceptance but resentment and rejection," he said.
State and local leaders, he said, can combat those fears by putting out a "message to the people of Michigan that should be welcoming" and he said the state -- and the nation -- must confront racial issues.
"It has to be solved," he said.
The population estimates show there were just over 19,000 fewer white residents in Michigan in 2006 than in 2005. The black population also fell by about 2,400. Compounding the slow growth is an aging population, particularly among whites, that is having fewer babies. The disastrous economic situation has also caused many to leave the state to find work.
Meanwhile, the Hispanic population rose by nearly 7,000 from 2005 to 2006 and the Asian population grew by 6,100.
"They (Asians) are taking the higher tech jobs that go wanting because we don't have a qualified native population," said Kurt Metzger, a director of research for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
In the past, discussions about race in Detroit have centered on blacks and whites, said Ozzie Rivera, director of the multicultural affairs office at Madonna University in Livonia. Although blacks remain the largest minority group in the region and state, the growing Hispanic population must trigger a wider discussion in Metro Detroit about minorities, Rivera said.
"If that discussion is not held, there is room for cultural misunderstanding," he said.
You can reach Mike Wilkinson at (313) 222-2563 or mwilkinson@detnews.com.
By: Mike Wilkinson
Published: Thursday, May 17, 2007
For most of this decade, Michigan's anemic growth in population has been fueled entirely by minorities, with every one of the state's 140,000 additional residents either Hispanic, Asian, black or other minority.
Census figures released today also show that the white population in Michigan dropped for the second year in a row, leading to the state's first overall drop in population since the early 1980s.
The census estimates, drawn from birth, death and migration data, paint a picture of a more diverse state, mirroring changes across the country.
Nationwide, the Hispanic population surged by nearly 7 million since 2000, and minorities now comprise nearly a third of the country, with more than 100 million residents.
"There is a trend that metropolitan areas have the greatest amount of diversity," said state demographer Ken Darga. "And almost every part of the state has diversity."
That diversity may stress already strained race relations. Southeastern Michigan is the nation's most segregated region and solving racial discord is considered crucial to Metro Detroit's revival.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a teaching psychiatrist at Harvard University and an expert on race relations, cautioned that the initial reaction to a growing minority community can be flight as the majority population feels threatened.
"Often there is not acceptance but resentment and rejection," he said.
State and local leaders, he said, can combat those fears by putting out a "message to the people of Michigan that should be welcoming" and he said the state -- and the nation -- must confront racial issues.
"It has to be solved," he said.
The population estimates show there were just over 19,000 fewer white residents in Michigan in 2006 than in 2005. The black population also fell by about 2,400. Compounding the slow growth is an aging population, particularly among whites, that is having fewer babies. The disastrous economic situation has also caused many to leave the state to find work.
Meanwhile, the Hispanic population rose by nearly 7,000 from 2005 to 2006 and the Asian population grew by 6,100.
"They (Asians) are taking the higher tech jobs that go wanting because we don't have a qualified native population," said Kurt Metzger, a director of research for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
In the past, discussions about race in Detroit have centered on blacks and whites, said Ozzie Rivera, director of the multicultural affairs office at Madonna University in Livonia. Although blacks remain the largest minority group in the region and state, the growing Hispanic population must trigger a wider discussion in Metro Detroit about minorities, Rivera said.
"If that discussion is not held, there is room for cultural misunderstanding," he said.
You can reach Mike Wilkinson at (313) 222-2563 or mwilkinson@detnews.com.
Labels: InTheNews, regionalism, Research
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