Latinos will pass whites as majority ethnicity in California in March | Daily Sundial

Latinos will pass whites as majority ethnicity in California in March | Daily Sundial: In the wake of the ethnic studies debacle at Cal State Los Angeles, educators believe the forecasted change in California’s demographic profile represents a significant event and could become a catalyst for debate, not only in diversity reform throughout all levels of education, but in hiring practices.

In Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2014-2015 budget summary, Latinos were projected to eclipse whites as the plurality, or largest racial/ethnic group, in the state by a margin of 39 percent to 38.8 percent, respectively, this month.

The Department of Finance previously projected the Latino and white populations would draw even by the middle of 2013, but a decline in birth rates caused a slight deviation in the estimate.

While the shift in demographics is not unique — states like New Mexico and Hawaii have a Latino and Asian plurality, respectively — Mary Pardo, Chicano studies department chair, believes the change is significant for a state as populous and diverse as California.