Population shift.

• Position: GRAPH: COVER STORY

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. has reached an important demographic tipping point: Racial. and ethnic minorities now make up more than half of all children born in this country (see article, p. 6). Although whites still, represent the single largest share of births, minority, or "non-white," births (blacks, Hispanics, Asians, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians) collectively outnumber them. As this line graph illustrates, this shift started several decades ago.

ANALYZE THE GRAPH

(1) The number of white births for 1951 was about --.

a 2.9 million

b 3.2 million

c 3.5 million

d 3.7 million

(2) The number of both white and non-white births increased from --.

a 1961 to 1966

b 1971 to 1976

c 1976 to 1986

d 2001 to 2011

(3) The number of non-white births in 1991 was--the number of nonwhite births in 1986.

a the same as

b 100,000 more than

c 300,000 more than

d almost double

(4) In which of these years was the difference between the number of white births and the number of nonwhite births the greatest?

a 1961

b 1976

c 1991

d 2011

(5) The total, number of births {both white and non-white) was about--in 2011 than in 1976.

a 600,000 less

b 100,000 less

c 200,000 greater

d 800,000 greater

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1) What do you think will happen to the number of white births and non-white births in the next few decades? How do you think that might affect the total, population of the nation? Explain.

(2) This graph suggests that America's youngest generation is also its most diverse...