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CNN Live Today

Hispanics Now Largest Minority in U.S.

Aired January 22, 2003 - 10:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, the U.S. Census Bureau is in the unusual position this morning of breaking some major news. As of July, 2001, Hispanics make up the largest minority in the United States with some 37 million people. Now, census figures peg the African-American population now at 36.1 million.
However, there is another number of African-Americans who are people who may be of two different races and still call themselves African-American. That number still is a bit higher. About 15 months earlier, though, these two groups were about dead even in size.

For more on the story behind these numbers and what, if anything, all this means, let's go now to Julio Aliaga. He is the D.C. bureau chief for our sister network, CNN En Espanol, and he joins us now from Washington.

Julio, good to see you. Thank you for joining us this morning. How are you?

JULIO ALIAGA, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, CNN EN ESPANOL: My pleasure. Thank you, Leon.

HARRIS: Well, what do you make of these numbers as you've seen them so far?

ALIAGA: Well, that's interesting, Leon, because the Hispanics have been put together as a block for census purposes, but really the Hispanics are not a very homogeneous segment of the population.

We have different backgrounds -- any by that, I mean we have different nationals, different cultural backgrounds, different races, even different languages. Some people forget that second generation and even third generation Hispanics in the United States don't speak Spanish.

And when I say different nationalities, remember that we have Cubans, Mexicans, and each a different group. We have different interests, and having different interests means that we're not necessarily very, very united. We're a very diverse group.

HARRIS: And see, the African-American community still pretty much votes almost in block, mostly Democratic. However, that number is starting to somewhat shift a little bit here. What -- does this mean anything at all to the political parties?

We are going to take a quick look. We have got a graphic here that shows how the party -- how Hispanics, those who call themselves Hispanic, broke their vote down in 2000. As you see here, 62 percent went for Gore, 35 percent for Bush. And as you said a moment ago, Julio, there aren't any universal issues that actually drive Hispanics as a voting block.

But going into, now, 2004, does this new information from the census give either party something to work with?

ALIAGA: Well, it's very -- it is going to be very difficult because Cubans, for example, tend to focus on topics like Cuba, obviously, and Fidel, and the embargo. Puerto Ricans, perhaps, focus on topics like Vieques. Mexicans, Salvadorians, Nicaraguans on topics like immigration which is something that, for example, doesn't affect the Puerto Ricans, as U.S. citizens can come and go to the United States any time they want.

And then, of course, we have Hispanics that are U.S. citizens born in the United States which are very focused on domestic -- on domestic issues. So the Democrats and Republicans really have a hard time trying to unify a theme to attract all Hispanics together.

HARRIS: All right. Let me ask you this -- and that point there, let me throw out this philosophical idea. Is that possibly because there isn't a single unifying identity or person, a Hispanic politician or public figure who can actually galvanize that entire block into a single -- a block that may be one-minded on a particular issue?

ALIAGA: There is no national leader that I can think of that would represent or unify all these different groups. They have very different interests, and that is a real problem here. Also, don't forget that the numbers look, sound very impressive. But the reality is, many Hispanics are immigrants, in many cases they are illegal -- point being that they are not citizens. They can't vote. Those who are citizens, are not necessarily registered to vote, and those who are registered to vote don't necessarily vote the day of election -- on election day.

So the numbers, in the end, may not be as significant as they appear to be at first sight. Obviously, though, the parties are interested in Hispanics, anyway, because the children of these immigrants eventually are citizens, they will understand the system very well, and they will vote. And I think the parties are interested in the future generations of Hispanics, more than the immigrants coming to the U.S. now.

HARRIS: That is a very interesting point, because as I read these census figures, one of the reasons why this expansion in the Hispanic population is happening is because the Hispanic birth rate is like twice that of African-Americans, which is about three or four or five times that of white Americans.

ALIAGA: That's true (ph).

HARRIS: That may play out something -- may have a significance further on down the road, you're saying. ALIAGA: Yes. And I think Hispanics -- mostly can use this information, this news, is to try to make themselves more visible. I think that Hispanics feel that many times -- or feel they are taken for granted, that there is this stereotype of illegals coming into the United States to provide cheap labor doesn't justify, really, what all Hispanics are doing, and all the contributions they are giving to society, and the country as a whole in that, if they become more visible, they will feel more dignified, they will have more self respect in the long run, giving them more influence as well.

HARRIS: Well, no matter how you slice it, look at the numbers, the "browning of America" that was predicted a little while ago seems to be happening, and coming to actual fruition. Julio Aliaga, thank you very much, of our sister network CNN Espanol. Appreciate your time this morning.

ALIAGA: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 22, 2003 - 10:28   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, the U.S. Census Bureau is in the unusual position this morning of breaking some major news. As of July, 2001, Hispanics make up the largest minority in the United States with some 37 million people. Now, census figures peg the African-American population now at 36.1 million.
However, there is another number of African-Americans who are people who may be of two different races and still call themselves African-American. That number still is a bit higher. About 15 months earlier, though, these two groups were about dead even in size.

For more on the story behind these numbers and what, if anything, all this means, let's go now to Julio Aliaga. He is the D.C. bureau chief for our sister network, CNN En Espanol, and he joins us now from Washington.

Julio, good to see you. Thank you for joining us this morning. How are you?

JULIO ALIAGA, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, CNN EN ESPANOL: My pleasure. Thank you, Leon.

HARRIS: Well, what do you make of these numbers as you've seen them so far?

ALIAGA: Well, that's interesting, Leon, because the Hispanics have been put together as a block for census purposes, but really the Hispanics are not a very homogeneous segment of the population.

We have different backgrounds -- any by that, I mean we have different nationals, different cultural backgrounds, different races, even different languages. Some people forget that second generation and even third generation Hispanics in the United States don't speak Spanish.

And when I say different nationalities, remember that we have Cubans, Mexicans, and each a different group. We have different interests, and having different interests means that we're not necessarily very, very united. We're a very diverse group.

HARRIS: And see, the African-American community still pretty much votes almost in block, mostly Democratic. However, that number is starting to somewhat shift a little bit here. What -- does this mean anything at all to the political parties?

We are going to take a quick look. We have got a graphic here that shows how the party -- how Hispanics, those who call themselves Hispanic, broke their vote down in 2000. As you see here, 62 percent went for Gore, 35 percent for Bush. And as you said a moment ago, Julio, there aren't any universal issues that actually drive Hispanics as a voting block.

But going into, now, 2004, does this new information from the census give either party something to work with?

ALIAGA: Well, it's very -- it is going to be very difficult because Cubans, for example, tend to focus on topics like Cuba, obviously, and Fidel, and the embargo. Puerto Ricans, perhaps, focus on topics like Vieques. Mexicans, Salvadorians, Nicaraguans on topics like immigration which is something that, for example, doesn't affect the Puerto Ricans, as U.S. citizens can come and go to the United States any time they want.

And then, of course, we have Hispanics that are U.S. citizens born in the United States which are very focused on domestic -- on domestic issues. So the Democrats and Republicans really have a hard time trying to unify a theme to attract all Hispanics together.

HARRIS: All right. Let me ask you this -- and that point there, let me throw out this philosophical idea. Is that possibly because there isn't a single unifying identity or person, a Hispanic politician or public figure who can actually galvanize that entire block into a single -- a block that may be one-minded on a particular issue?

ALIAGA: There is no national leader that I can think of that would represent or unify all these different groups. They have very different interests, and that is a real problem here. Also, don't forget that the numbers look, sound very impressive. But the reality is, many Hispanics are immigrants, in many cases they are illegal -- point being that they are not citizens. They can't vote. Those who are citizens, are not necessarily registered to vote, and those who are registered to vote don't necessarily vote the day of election -- on election day.

So the numbers, in the end, may not be as significant as they appear to be at first sight. Obviously, though, the parties are interested in Hispanics, anyway, because the children of these immigrants eventually are citizens, they will understand the system very well, and they will vote. And I think the parties are interested in the future generations of Hispanics, more than the immigrants coming to the U.S. now.

HARRIS: That is a very interesting point, because as I read these census figures, one of the reasons why this expansion in the Hispanic population is happening is because the Hispanic birth rate is like twice that of African-Americans, which is about three or four or five times that of white Americans.

ALIAGA: That's true (ph).

HARRIS: That may play out something -- may have a significance further on down the road, you're saying. ALIAGA: Yes. And I think Hispanics -- mostly can use this information, this news, is to try to make themselves more visible. I think that Hispanics feel that many times -- or feel they are taken for granted, that there is this stereotype of illegals coming into the United States to provide cheap labor doesn't justify, really, what all Hispanics are doing, and all the contributions they are giving to society, and the country as a whole in that, if they become more visible, they will feel more dignified, they will have more self respect in the long run, giving them more influence as well.

HARRIS: Well, no matter how you slice it, look at the numbers, the "browning of America" that was predicted a little while ago seems to be happening, and coming to actual fruition. Julio Aliaga, thank you very much, of our sister network CNN Espanol. Appreciate your time this morning.

ALIAGA: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com