Puerto Rican and African American Young Men: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The rapid population growth of Hispanics and African Americans has drawn attention to their current socioeconomic status and their future impact on the econmy. Both groups have grown at faster rates than the white population over the past decade and will continue to do so throughout the twenty-first century, together, they currently constitute one-fifth of the total U.S. population, but by 2010 are expected to constitute one-fourth of the nation's total population. Both Latinos and blacks face social and economic difficulties relative to the white population. Puerto Ricans, in particular, have a socioeconmic profile more similar to that of African American than other Hispanic subgroups.