Language and the Changing Demographics

Recently I read about the changing demographic population which has expanded from the coasts to the heartland of the U.S. Four states and about 200 counties are ‘majority-minority’ and more than one-third of the people in the United States are ‘non-white.’ While people of color are the majority of the world’s population, census projections show that by 2050, we will be the majority in the U.S. as well.

I’ve been teaching about these trends for over 20 years and it’s refreshing to see that the data confirms those early projections and the look of the cities where I’ve lived.

What I find interesting is that our language has not caught up with our changing reality. Even though language is fluid and ever-changing, the coded language that describes this new reality is not free from bias or agenda.

How does a majority continue to be relegated minority status? I remember when women were referred to as the 51% minority. A friend shared a story about a student of hers who mentioned that he was the only ‘majority in a room full of minorities’ in describing an experience he had. These and other examples point to a level of denial, a holding on to the power and privilege of the past and/or a refusal to accept an inevitable future.

While language often lacks precision it can approximate the truth. I am not non-white, non-male or a minority. I am a woman of African-heritage, born in the U.S. who has fought to language my experience and have my voice. That voice rings true even when the words fail to do the same.

Perhaps, there’s an app for that!