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Hispanics: The Majority Minority
December 9, 2002
Look for December 12 on your standard U.S. office calendar, and you will see "Virgin of Guadalupe" marking the date. The notation is a telling sign of the growing reach and influence of Hispanic immigrants in the U.S., an influence that's expected to continue to increase until, one day, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be comparable to and as mainstream as St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. Just as we're all Irish for one day, we'll all "be," and celebrate Hispanic culture just as widely. Already, our experts say, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is no longer limited to those of Mexican birth or descent. Her day is observed by U.S. Hispanic immigrants from diverse countries and backgrounds. What's more, "gringos" are starting to participate in the feast too. As the 12th approaches, the University of Cincinnati e-briefing examines this feast and other issues related to U.S. Hispanics, who, according to the latest census figures, are the largest minority in the nation.