‘Diversity, Changing Demographics, and the 2020 Election’ Topic of TAMIU’s Online IBC Bank and Commerce Bank Lecture

The spread of racial diversity across the United States and its implication for the 2020 presidential election will be explored online during the next installation of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) IBC Bank and Commerce Bank 2020-2021 Keynote Speaker Series Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 3 p.m.

Dr. William H. Frey, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and research professor with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, will present his lecture titled, “Diversity, Changing American Demographics, and the 2020 Election.”

The virtual lecture, presented via WebEX, is at 3 p.m. CST. It is free and open to the public. To register, participants can visit https://go.tamiu.edu/frey or search for WebEX Event #133 861 2989. The ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the lecture’s transition to an online presentation.

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, and the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade present the lecture, part of a series sponsored by IBC Bank and Commerce Bank.

More than 50 years since the Civil Rights movement was at its peak, racial diversity in America is again on the front burner in political discourse, popular culture, and youthful activism. Yet, this is a far different time demographically than the 1960s. Racial diversity today is more central to the fabric of America.

In his most recent book, titled, “Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics Are Remaking America” (Brookings Institution Press, 2018), Dr. Frey explores why the phrase, “demography is destiny,” is increasingly relevant for understanding the nation’s future.

According to Dr. Frey’s book, racial minorities will power all of the growth in the U.S. labor force as older white baby boomers continue to retire. They will make the difference between growth and decline in small towns, suburbs, and exurbs. They will also alter the nation’s electorate such that both parties cannot afford to ignore the interests of all racial groups. Despite recent volatile politics regarding race, there are signs that America has become open to these changes.

In his lecture, Dr. Frey will discuss the major themes of his book and relate them to current politics. He will discuss their implications for the 2020 presidential election in light of the rise of youthful racially diverse voting blocs and the spread of racial diversity across the country, changing the politics at both the national and local levels.

Frey is an internationally recognized demographer who has written widely on U.S. demographics, American political demographics, and the U.S. Census. He has authored over 200 publications and several books including “America by the Numbers: A Field Guide to the U.S. Population” with Bill Abresch and Jonathan Yeasting; and “Social Atlas of the United States” with Amy Beth Anspach and John Paul DeWitt.

His research has been written about in such diverse publications as The Economist, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The National Journal, The New Yorker, and Forbes. His commentary and observations have been featured on broadcast media including NPR’s All Things Considered, The PBS NewsHour, and NBC’s Nightly News.

For more information, contact Amy Palacios, associate director, Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, at 326.2820 or amy@tamiu.edu or visit offices in Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 221.

Additional information is also available at  facebook.com/tamiucswht.