What is a Minority Group?
According to the Federal Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Directive 15 (revised October 30, 1997) minority groups are categorized data on race. This directive specifies five racial groups: American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African-American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; White, and one ethnic: Hispanic or Latino. Every categorical group, except White, is considered a minority group. These categories are used not only to produce data on the demographic characteristics of the population, but also to monitor civil rights enforcement and program implementation. For the latest data on racial and ethnic populations in the United States, go to: U.S.
