Currently, Latinos are not only the fastest growing minority group in the United Sates, but also they represent the largest, the youngest, and the poorest minority group in this country.
According to the Census Bureau (2001), from 1980 to 1990, the Latino population grew only 10%, whereas from 1990 to 2000, they showed a growth increase of 58%. This increase is alarming in itself, but is even more so when compared to the 13% increase of the total U.S. population from 1990 to 2000.
The rapid growth of the Latino community is made evident when looking at their geographical diversification. Traditionally, Latinos have preferred the West Coast and the South, mainly clustering in the states of California and Texas. In recent years, this pattern has changed and Latinos are moving to other states, such as North Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Ninety-one percent of Latinos live in urban areas, whereas only 9% live in rural areas. It is worth noting that these figures may not include illegal immigrants since the nature of the data collection process may not be representative of “unofficial dwellers.”
In general, Latinos are younger than other groups within the U.S. While 39% of Latinos are under nineteen years old, only 29% of the larger U.S. population falls into this category. The disparity in age difference is more pronounced in the elderly population, (5% of Latinos are over 65 years old as compared to 12% of non-Latinos). The average age for Latino woman is 27, while the average U.S. woman is 36. This pattern is the same for males, the average Latino man is 26 years old while the average U.S. man is 34 years old. In general, the average age of Latinos is 26 and the average age of the U.S. population is 35.
Research published during approximately 1990-2000, suggested that Latinos are among the poorest in the country. Their income is significantly lower than the average U.S. population. Their poverty rate is 21.8% compared to the 19% poverty rate of the total US population (U.S. Bureau of the Census 2002).
This scarcity of resources has put a burden on accessing basic resources, education, skilled occupations and therefore higher socioeconomic status. Achieving higher socioeconomic status appears monumental because Latinos are disproportionately disadvantaged in all of the arenas mentioned above. For example, in terms of income, while 10% of Latinos make less than $10,000 annually, only 6% of the total population makes this amount. On the other hand, while only 29% of Latinos make $50,000 or more annually, half of the residents of the U.S. make this much money (Marrota & Garcia 2003).
This disparity makes sense when one looks at the significant difference in the occupations held by these two groups. For example, the total U.S. population holds 31% of the managerial positions, while only 15% of the Latino population works in these positions. In occupations like farming, forestry and fishing, Latinos hold 5% of the jobs, while the total U.S. population holds only 2% of these jobs (Marrota & Garcia 2003). Again, it is not clear if these figures include illegal migrant workers, who hold most of the agricultural jobs in this country. Seventy percent of farmers born outside of the United States constitute the majority of the agricultural workers, and of those, 90% are of Mexican descent (Alderete, Gaxiola, Kolody & Vega 2000 cited in Hovey 2002).
Poverty among Latinos does not only result in financial struggle, but also in limited access to resources, such as education and health services. For example, Latinos have the highest high school dropout rate. Moreover, while the number of high school and college graduates has increased for the total U.S. population, their Latinos counterparts have maintained the same educational attainment since 1990 (Marrota & Garcia 2003). These educational obstacles provide some explanation for the under-representation of Latinos in higher education, it also suggest some linkages between their poverty and educational attainment.
As stated above, poverty also results in limited access to health services for Latinos. In the United States, health is measured by looking at the population’s medical coverage, death rate, and causes of death. Latinos have a history of having limited or no access to medical services. Seventy-one percent of the average U.S. population and 73% of non-Latino Whites are covered by private insurance, whereas only 47% of Latinos are covered by private insurance (Marrota & Garcia 2003).
According to the Center for Disease Control (2000), among minorities, Latinos have the second lowest death rate. Asian Americans have the lowest and African Americans have the highest mortality rate. Among the leading causes of death, heart disease, malignant neoplasm, accidents, diabetes, liver disease, and homicide are among the higher for Latinos in comparison to the total U.S. population. Other leading causes of death for non-Latinos Whites are influenza, diabetes, and suicide (CDC 2000 cited Marrota & Garcia 2003).
Any discussion centering on the impoverished conditions of Latinos in this country would be incomplete without noting the discrimination and oppression that Latinos have historically faced from the larger U.S. society (Houvouras, 2001). The U.S. government has taken advantage of Latinos in numerous ways.
First, in February 2, 1848, the U.S. government took away their land. This arrangement was made official with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In this treaty, Mexico had to grant Texas, New Mexico, and Upper California to the United States in exchange for reparations for war damages (Romo 1996 cited in Houvouras 2001). When the land was transferred, Mexicans living in those states were promised full rights as U.S. citizens; however, soon became second-class citizens, and faced several anti-Latino laws. Moreover, they were forbidden to speak their native language. Examples of the anti-Latino/anti-immigration are laws such as the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, the Illegal Immigration Reform Act, and the Immigrant Responsibility Reform Act of 1996 (Romo 1996 cited in Houvouras 2001).
Latinos have been seen as cheap labor, given few or no benefits, and have been target of discrimination. All these factors come into play when examining their poverty. Despite the common belief that education is a ladder to higher income, statistics show that even if a small fragment of the population manages to achieved higher education, their income would still be disproportionate as compared to their white counterparts (Marrota & Garcia 2003) due to discrimination practices, and historical disadvantage.
The increasing growth of the Latino population is concerning to many USA citizens and politicians. Their pronounced inequality in income, education, access to health and social services are burdens to enhance their socioeconomic status and overcome poverty. These indicators of well-being could perhaps improve if they were not targets of racism, discrimination, and oppression.
Latinos are and have been a strong and cheap labor force that has contributed greatly to the economy of the U.S. society. The first generations of Latinos have built a strong resilience in the face of adversity. However, if the Latino population continues to grow as projected, and their poverty and access to resources remains unanswered, the total U.S. population will encounter the consequences of “hosting” the largest minority of the U.S. living in poverty. The lack of attention to the Latino problems could potentially modify the current economic trends and health status of the United States.
Will the larger U.S. society be ready to face the consequences?
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