People of color may be the majority in Kansas by 2066. Here’s what that means

If current trends continue, the majority of Kansans will be black or Latino by 2066.

Experts call this a source of opportunity for the state, but also say Kansas will face increasing challenges unless racial and ethnic disparities are addressed in education, health and other areas.

“Change is gonna happen no matter what,” said Steve Coen, president and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. “This change is coming, so either we view it as an opportunity or we don’t, and I think we need to view it as an opportunity.” From 2000-2016, all the population growth in Kansas was among racial and ethnic minorities. In that same time period, non-Hispanic white Kansans decreased by 0.3 percent while minority populations (any group other than non-Hispanic white) increased by 52.5 percent — a rate higher than the 44.8 percent average in the United States.

(Read more: Local News |)