Census Bureau figures show the total population of Asians jumped to a range of 10.5 million to 12.8 million, a dramatic rise from 7.3 million a decade ago. The census is painting a statistical portrait of a nation that is still majority white but increasingly diverse. Diversity is no longer restricted to the coasts or large cities. The nation is the most ethnically and racially varied in modern times, according to experts, but direct comparisons are difficult because of the changing nature of census questions. The trend to diversity will continue, experts believe.
Immigration remains at high levels.
The reported American Indian and Alaska Native population also rose dramatically during the decade, reaching a range of 2.1 million to 4.1 million, compared to 2 million in 1990. In the long term, though, this builds a basis for Latino dissatisfaction with lack of representation and influence. The population that checked African American or black alone was 33.9 million. The higher black multiracial responses are, the more likely it is that they might erode affirmative action and civil rights enforcement. We're worried about it.