White Animus

Written By Sang Hyun Jung




The Sonia Sotomayor hearings will likely wrap up today. Instead of a civil discourse on constitutional and judicial matters, we were treated to a circus. The prime act was based on race. Specifically, the racial prejudice and injustice of Sotomayor. Sotomayor, for the bulk of her testimony, fielded questions from Senate republicans who accused her of race bias.

There’s nothing more surreal than old, white men claiming victimization, while looking down on a latina woman. Yet, this is a larger issue.

The United States is experiencing a profound demographic shift where minorities will soon replace whites as the majority. This is partly due to the rich history of the U.S. taking a huge influx of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Yet, the most noticeable rise in demographic diversity is not from the arrival of immigrants, but from the population growth of Hispanics already in the U.S.

In fact, the nation’s Hispanic population has passed 41.3 million as of 2004, a 3.6 growth rate that shatters the growth rates of other minorities and whites.

However, all minorities are replacing whites as the majority not in terms of population size, but of social and cultural relevance. This is due in part by their increase participation in civic discussions and public policymaking. Policy shifts and laws will undoubtedly change as politicians seek the increasingly significant Hispanic vote. Our education system—and what schools and universities teach will—change to better reflect a more ethnically diverse reality.

And now we are seeing a prolific rise in minority professionals, in business, the arts, and in science and engineering. Although upper management is still dominated by white males, minorities are starting to crack the glass ceiling. Asians, in general, earn more income than whites. Blacks and Hispanics have been slowly eroding the income gap over the past decade.

Where does that leave whites, the old majority?

Minorities are experiencing a population boom, thus raising their political significance. Our academic discourse and national history is changing to better reflect the role of non-whites. Non-white actors and themed shows are starting to crop up in movies, television and music. And a black man is the President of the United States.

Scary—to some.

There has never been a time when conservative whites have been so politically, and culturally irrelevant. And that is what scares the old white men who were once comforted by their codes, handshakes, and country clubs. They feel “victimized”, by the success and proliferation of minorities. And so these men clutch on to their old way of thinking. They scream “victim” and stoke the white animus from the hardcore fringe of their constituencies.

The times, they are a-changing. The only way for these ol' Republicans to stay relevant will be to roll with ethnic change and create positive relationships with minorities.

Labels: demographic, ethnic, population, racial prejudice, republican, sonia sotomayor, supreme court, white, white animus

White Animus

Written By Sang Hyun Jung




The Sonia Sotomayor hearings will likely wrap up today. Instead of a civil discourse on constitutional and judicial matters, we were treated to a circus. The prime act was based on race. Specifically, the racial prejudice and injustice of Sotomayor. Sotomayor, for the bulk of her testimony, fielded questions from Senate republicans who accused her of race bias.

There’s nothing more surreal than old, white men claiming victimization, while looking down on a latina woman. Yet, this is a larger issue.

The United States is experiencing a profound demographic shift where minorities will soon replace whites as the majority. This is partly due to the rich history of the U.S. taking a huge influx of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Yet, the most noticeable rise in demographic diversity is not from the arrival of immigrants, but from the population growth of Hispanics already in the U.S.

In fact, the nation’s Hispanic population has passed 41.3 million as of 2004, a 3.6 growth rate that shatters the growth rates of other minorities and whites.

However, all minorities are replacing whites as the majority not in terms of population size, but of social and cultural relevance. This is due in part by their increase participation in civic discussions and public policymaking. Policy shifts and laws will undoubtedly change as politicians seek the increasingly significant Hispanic vote. Our education system—and what schools and universities teach will—change to better reflect a more ethnically diverse reality.

And now we are seeing a prolific rise in minority professionals, in business, the arts, and in science and engineering. Although upper management is still dominated by white males, minorities are starting to crack the glass ceiling. Asians, in general, earn more income than whites. Blacks and Hispanics have been slowly eroding the income gap over the past decade.

Where does that leave whites, the old majority?

Minorities are experiencing a population boom, thus raising their political significance. Our academic discourse and national history is changing to better reflect the role of non-whites. Non-white actors and themed shows are starting to crop up in movies, television and music. And a black man is the President of the United States.

Scary—to some.

There has never been a time when conservative whites have been so politically, and culturally irrelevant. And that is what scares the old white men who were once comforted by their codes, handshakes, and country clubs. They feel “victimized”, by the success and proliferation of minorities. And so these men clutch on to their old way of thinking. They scream “victim” and stoke the white animus from the hardcore fringe of their constituencies.

The times, they are a-changing. The only way for these ol' Republicans to stay relevant will be to roll with ethnic change and create positive relationships with minorities.

Labels: demographic, ethnic, population, racial prejudice, republican, sonia sotomayor, supreme court, white, white animus