Racial Generation Gap Opens

Whites are older, minorities are younger
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted May 17, 2007 2:54 PM CDT
Racial Generation Gap Opens
USA. Brooklyn, New York. 2005. Bay Ridge. Norwegian American Day parade. (NYC47702)   (Magnum Photos)

The number of non-white Americans has passed 100 million—a third of the current population—for the first time, the Census Bureau reports, and the growing minority population is creating a new racial generation gap. Hispanics had the lowest median age at 27.4, while the median age of whites, 40.5, was the highest reported.

The gap, partly caused by a glut of aging baby boomers, could have serious implications for politics as elderly, white voters push their needs, to the detriment of younger and minority groups, who are less likely to vote, notes the New York Times. Nearly half  of all children under age 5 are Hispanic, black or Asian. (More race stories.)

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