Since its birth in 1776, the U.S. has been largely governed by whites, but minorities have always been here, starting with the first Americans — the Native Americans.
Some of the nation’s newcomers arrived willingly, lured by the freedom of living in a young country, but others — African slaves — came against their will, hurled into what amounted to a vast, open-aired prison.
The percentage of whites and minorities, however, was never fixed; the makeup of our nation has evolved, and despite the nativism that continues to haunt us, that evolution has led to major breakthroughs, including the civil rights legislation of 1965.
That evolution continues, and the proof is documented in the latest census report: People who identify as multiracial numbered 33.8 million in 2020, compared with 9 million in 2010.
Nationally, the white population shrank from 63.7 percent in 2010 to 57.8 percent in 2020, the lowest mark in history; Latinos accounted for 51.1 percent of our growth nationally.
In Texas, people of color made up 95 percent of our population growth, with non-Hispanic whites accounting for 39.8 of the population, down from 45 percent in 2010.
Latinos now comprise 39 percent of the state population, and in San Antonio, the number grew by 9 percent, mirroring national and state figures.
“The 2020 census confirmed what we have known for years — the future of the country is Latino,” Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, told the Associated Press.
The census figures have ramifications beyond mere numbers. They will have a profound impact on redistricting efforts throughout the country, leading to what may be a massive effort to dilute — or, in some cases, maximize — minority influence at the polls. It is important to remove, legislatively if possible, these efforts to manipulate the vote, making the process as objective as possible.
In Texas, the population grew by 4 million, which means it will gain two congressional seats, thanks to minority population growth. A huge power grab will emerge in the Legislature, where the House is dominated by the GOP.
“I guarantee you that in almost every state, partisan interests have gone ahead and started drawing maps,” Michael Li, a redistricting expert with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, told the Los Angeles Times. “They’re trying to figure out what they can do and what they can get away with.”
In Texas, partisan interests could be blunted with an independent redistricting commission to better ensure voters choose their lawmakers, as opposed to the other way around.
Diversity is a positive, broadening our outlook and expanding our understanding of cultures that may seem foreign to us. Yet while minorities have traditionally voted Democratic, it is wrong to assume they represent monolithic voting blocs, their choice of candidates hinging solely on their skin color. They are as diverse as the country at large when it comes to voting.
Still, Republicans cannot ignore the increasing percentage of minorities in this country. They may have to revisit the agenda they sought to establish following the two Obama administrations — the effort to attract minority voters. If so, it would represent a major shift away from the Donald Trump era.
The reality is people of color drove, and will continue to drive, population growth in Texas. The question is whether state lawmakers will recognize that in representation. And, unfortunately, history suggests we know the answer.
San Antonio Express-News
