Latinos Poised to Equal White Population in California

Any day now

Perhaps today or certainly sometime very soon, another baby will be born or a new immigrant will arrive and the number of Latinos in California will equal the state's non-Hispanic white population, according to official state population projections.

The change, to be marked today by a noon event at the state Capitol, has long been predicted by state demographers. It won't instantly make Latinos an equally powerful political force in California, or bring their incomes into parity with non-Hispanic whites, or close the school achievement gap.

But it is an important milestone – and a reminder that these other goals will become easier to achieve as the number of Latinos continues to grow, several leaders and activists said.