ABSTRACT
Two profoundly important demographic changes are shaping the appearance and the character of nation. One change is the aging of the traditional US population. The other is the growth of ethnic minorities in the younger age groups. The fact that people in their older years will represent a larger part of society has, per se, no policy significance. The United States always has been able to handle large numbers. But in this case, the phenomenon is combined with economic and social dynamics that reduce the rate of growth of the younger population groups. The Task Force on Black and Minority Health of the Secretary of Health and Human Services has identified specific health problems that place minorities disproportionally at risk relative to the rest of the population. Each one of these problems will become a major challenge for policymaking as minorities increase in number and relative importance in multicultural society.
