11 Facts About Discrimination and Poverty in the Latino Community

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1. Hispanics are the nation's largest minority group and among its fastest growing populations. According to the US Census Bureau (2013), the Hispanic population in 2012 was 53 million, making up 17% of the US population.^["Mapping the Latino Population, By State, County and City." Pew Research Centers Hispanic Trends Project RSS. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/08/29/mapping-the-latino-population-by-state-county-and-city/ (accessed July 22, 2014).]
2. According to a Pew research poll, Latino people are the 2nd most discriminated against ethnic group after African-Americans. Host a poetry slam to discuss race-related experiences. Sign up for Mic Check Racism .^["Hispanics: Targets of Discrimination." Pew Research Center RSS. http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/hispanics-targets-of-discrimination/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]
3. In 2011, less than 30% of Hispanic students graduated from high school, and less than 4% earned advanced college degrees.^["United States Census Bureau." Hispanic Origin. Table 5. http://www.census.gov/population/hispanic/data/2011.html (accessed July 23, 2014).]
4. More than 20% of Hispanic females under the age of 18 live below the poverty level.^["United States Census Bureau." Hispanic Origin. Table 5. http://www.census.gov/population/hispanic/data/2011.html (accessed July 23, 2014).]
5. In a study conducted by Rutgers University, 22% of Hispanic/Latino workers reported experiencing workplace discrimination, compared to only 6% of whites.^[John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. "A Workplace Divided: How Americans View Discrimination and Race on the Job." Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. http://www.heldrich.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/content/A_Workplace_Divided.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
6. Working in discriminatory conditions often leads to depression, lack of self-confidence, bitterness, and withdrawal from work.^[John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. "A Workplace Divided: How Americans View Discrimination and Race on the Job." Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. http://www.heldrich.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/content/A_Workplace_Divided.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
7. Hispanic females earn roughly 54 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic male, which accounts for a loss of almost $24,000 in a year’s time.^["Closing the Wage Gap is Especially Important for Women of Color in Difficult Times." National Women's Law Center. http://www.nwlc.org/resource/closing-wage-gap-especially-important-women-color-difficult-times (accessed July 23, 2014).]
8. In 2011, Hispanics had the highest dropout rate (17%) for students ages 16 through 24.^["Latinos in Higher Education Trends." Collegeboard. http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/rd/2-Latinos-in-Higher-Education-Trends-Presentation_010412.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
9. More than 6 million Latino children were in poverty in 2010, 2/3 of whom come from immigrant parents.^["Childhood Poverty Among Hispanics Sets Record, Leads Nation." Pew Research Centers Hispanic Trends Project RSS. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2011/09/28/childhood-poverty-among-hispanics-sets-record-leads-nation/ (accessed July 21, 2014).]
10. Roughly 30% of Hispanics in the US lack health coverage.^[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Hispanic or Latino Populations." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/hispanic.html (accessed July 20, 2014).]
11. In 2010, the state of Arizona passed a law authorizing local police to check the immigration status of anyone they reasonably suspect of being in the United States illegally.^["Hispanics and Arizona's New Immigration Law." Pew Research Centers Hispanic Trends Project RSS. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2010/04/29/hispanics-and-arizonas-new-immigration-law/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]