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Recent US Census data confirm what many Americans have casually observed: racial and ethnic minorities are the fastest-growing segments of the US population. By mid century, nearly one in two Americans will be an Asian American, Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and/or Alaska Native. Since 2000, Hispanics have accounted for 3.5 million or over one-half of the population increase of 6.9 million individuals in the United States. The number of Asian Americans grew at a larger proportion (9%) than any other racial or ethnic group during this same time period. And in at least three states (California, Hawaii, and New Mexico) and the District of Columbia, racial and ethnic "minorities" constitute a majority of the population (1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]