Washington Post today about an "influx" of "affluent black newcomers" into Prince William County - Dumfries, Manassas, Woodbridge, Dale City, Occoquan - and how this influx is "contributing to a makeover of the county's image" while "adding Democrats" and helping candidates like Tim Kaine carry the county. I thought the following paragraphs were particularly interesting, both about how Prince William is changing and also about how Virginia is changing more broadly:
The creation of majority minority communities such as Southbridge also shows how the diversity of Washington suburbs sometimes turns up in unexpected places. There are large numbers of Koreans in Annandale, Filipinos in Manassas, Salvadorans in Langley Park, Indians in Gaithersburg and Ethiopians in South Arlington.In Prince William, the way the newcomers found out about Southbridge and other subdivisions was an organic process, occurring subtly and without fanfare. The catalyst was longtime black military families living along the I-95 corridor who traded up to homes in the new subdivisions. After that, word spread across the region about southeastern Prince William.
Pockets of western Prince William were settled by freed slaves, but historically the county has not been seen as especially welcoming. For some African Americans, there is still a stigma associated with Virginia, said Charita Barnes, 40, a real estate agent.
"Let's be honest," she said, "Black people don't just move to Virginia."
Well, apparently they are starting to move here now. As of the 2000 census, in fact, African Americans made up 20% of Virginia's population, compared to 12% nationwide. By comparison, "persons of Hispanic or Latino origin" constituted under 5% of Virginia's population, compared to 12.5% nationally. We know, of course, that the number of Hispanics in Virginia is growing fast. Based on the Post article, it seems that the number of African Americans may be doing the same - at least in Prince William County.
The political implications or these demographic changes are complex, but overall, they appear to be helping Democrats "turn Virginia blue." My guess is that if right-wing Republicans keep projecting an image of xenophobia and intolerance, they can expect these trends to continue for a long time to come.
I watched the Immigration Rally on C-Span Monday over the web, and one of the speakers was a Hylton High School senior by the name of Maritza Gamarra. What she said was that "young Latinos are paying attention to what politicians are saying about our community." She then said that she will turn 18 in time to vote for the first time in this year's elections. She urged every young Latino to pay attention, then register and vote when they can.
There is a tidal wave of most likely Democratic voters coming, and the Republicans have managed to completely alienate them over the last several months (a-la Pete Wilson). That area of eastern Prince William County is home to thousands upon thousands of African-Americans, but also growing numbers of young Latino families with citizen children who are coming of voting age.
Frederick, despite his Colombian lineage, better watch out.
But with my own party pushing them out..you're right.
The Republicans are still clinging to an Old Virginia mentality that's literally losing territory and will someday persist only in rural pockets.
The challenge for Democrats is to start thinking beyond those old mindsets to appeal to newer Virginians. Warner and Kaine know how to do that, and both Webb and Miller clearly know the score. If we have to drag other hidebound Democrats into 21st Century Virginia, then let's get to it.
(This is not to say that Democrats should cede "Kilgore Country" voters to the Republicans, but the reality is that not many of them will vote for Democrats any time soon. So the greater efforts and resources should go where actual and potential Democrats are found.)