A new Brown University study shows Maine lagging behind other parts of the country in terms of becoming a more culturally and ethnically diverse society. Even the state’s pockets of relative multiculturalism — Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor — rank among the 25 least diverse metropolitan areas in the nation, according to the study, which measured change from 1980 to 2010.
Census data show increased ethnic populations in all 16 Maine counties during the past decade, but those minor changes did little to alter the state’s demographic makeup. The face Maine turns to the global market remains 95 percent white.
That cultural homogeneity places Maine at a competitive disadvantage, especially as it relates to rebuilding the state’s aging workforce. The fact that Maine is less diverse than most other places in the United States “makes it harder to attract young, educated workers,” according to Philip Trostel, a professor of economics and policy at the University of Maine.
“The big challenge for Maine’s economy in the next 20 years is growing the workforce,” agrees Frank O’Hara, who specializes in strategic planning, community and economic development, and labor policy as vice president of Planning Decisions, a research and planning firm with offices in Portland, Hallowell and York. “With [the state’s] low birth rate, it means we have to attract people to Maine. We will have to attract a more diverse workforce.”
But the competition is fierce, and Maine starts behind most of the rest of the nation.
“Diversity pushes innovation, and there is a war for talent out there,” Carl Mack, executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, told the Pittsburgh Business Times. “If you don’t get in and get all of that talent, you will be in trouble.”
The need to make Maine more ethnically diverse represents a response to economic reality, not a desire for social engineering. To compete for educated, young workers, Maine must become more welcoming to minorities by providing the opportunity for people to find satisfying lives here. Businesses, educators and government can play roles in facilitating that positive change.
O’Hara suggests that, in addition to promoting a Maine brand that includes “lobsters, trees and open space,” state government and private companies “can think about marketing a place in which people of more diverse backgrounds can be comfortable.”
The state’s comparatively low housing prices and peaceful quality of life can appeal to young families of all ethnicities.
Each year, the University of Maine system and the state’s private colleges welcome smart young people of many races and ethnicities to the state. But only a small percentage of students from large metropolitan areas stay in Maine after they complete their degree requirements, according to Laura Lee, assistant dean of student affairs at Bowdoin College.
A more intentional strategy to encourage college students from away to settle here after they graduate — perhaps with incentives such as loan forgiveness — would infuse youth and diversity into the state’s workforce.
Most important, any perception that Maine lacks diversity by choice must be dispelled. People of any race who consider living in Maine should be confident that, in the words of Pious Ali, a native of Ghana who lives in Portland, “Maine is a beautiful place to live and is full of warm-hearted people.”
Maine has the highest percentage of French americans in the united states. That’s not diverse?
No its not. The color of the world in not white; it has many colors. Once Maine and it citizens open its door to diversification it will attract the world.
And what would they do once they arrived. Maybe they could find employment at one of Maine’s large manufacturing plants. Oh yeah. Never mind.
Please take a look at the poverty Rate in other non white countries and compare them to Maine . Tell me most of the minority places are doing much better . This has nothing to do with skin color it has more to do with the local economy. Minorities will not help this.
Nope.It sure won’t. You could make every corner of this state a Benetton ad and the Maine economy will still stay right in the crapper.
Very perceptive, Green Archer.
You hit the bull’s eye with the arrow of truth.
America is run by lies and deceptions.
Really, the door is open, all they need is parkas for the winter. Look at Canada, where do the minorities move? Not to Montreal or Winnipeg.
Detroit and Chicago are colder than Maine.
Detroit and Chicago our cities Maine is a state and much more meteorlogically diverse. Look I used diverse in a sentence.
I lived for 4 years in Chicago. Way warmer than Maine.
Chicago is not warmer than Maine unless you live in Aroostook County’s far North. Here near the Coast it’s much warmer than the Midwest, where I used to live. And I’ve been in Chicago in the winter – it’s ridiculously cold. Glad I’m here.
Sounds like a person who has never been to Detroit. While I worked there the average winter temperature hovered around 28-F My winter in Millinocket was a bit colder at 13-F. BTW ” the exodus from Detroit is truly diverse.
Southern peoples moved to those cities because they used to have huge manufacturing industries. Now people are moving out because those industries are dying/dead because they’ve been moved to foreign lands for CHEAP LABOR, the only thing that matters to business and industry.
Toronto! The melting pot of North America. A great city.
It’s a catch–22 for Maine. Industries won’t move in without a diverse educated workforce and diverse educated workers can’t find career opportunities here. It will take time to work them both up together.
Yes Educated . On average minorities are less educated .
You mean, not allowed to move here because regulations say diversity is a percentage must.
Industries measure “diversity” before making a move-in decision? I find that difficult to believe. A well-trained work force, accessibility to markets — those are factors. But, diversity? How?
By “diversity,” industry means CHEAP LABOR, their primary goal when moving somewhere.
We need to work with what we have which is lots of land and water. This would indicate that we should be an agrarian economy. This trying to come up with a magic solution to “bring in industry” has been going on for too long.
Give small farmers the same breaks as large chemical-dependent growers and we’ll have a good agrarian economy so we can feed ourselves. Right now most of our food comes from far away and we don’t grow near enough to feed Maine people.
Farming is a satisfying, honorable. and enjoyable livelihood. Give people some encouragement and they will go for it. Great way to raise a family with home and food right there.
Diversity is a color?
As long as they are liberal.
There are 5 billion people on this planet with incomes lower than the average in Maine. Exactly how many of them do you want to “open the door to”, and what do these uneducated folks offer other than a way to cut wages of current Maine workers?
This would be a boon for business OWNERS those guys who close shops in Old Town only to open them in China where they pay $14 a week.
I’m not at all sure I want Maine to look like Somalia, Bangladesh, Honduras, Greece, China, or even Mexico. That applies no matter how much I’m offered for the clean water, clean air, and my quiet walks to the local store.
Are we supposed to truck such “people of color” in?
I have never been aware that any doors were closed. Perhaps people have simply chosen to not go through them …
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We don’t want the world telling us what to do or what we need.
Do you not understand anyone can move here who wants to? How is this not plain?
I think Louisiana would be right up there in the running.
Not the “right” kind of diversity.
BDN is unable to leave the subject alone apparently or is lacking for something to write about? As has been noted by others, the general population is free to locate here as well as anywhere else they choose.
It’s a newspaper’s responsibility to provoke and engage the public.
No it isn’t.
Its job is to make money for its owners.
and your resume includes how many years working for a regional publication?
Mine: 6
Have a nice day.
The swap buy sell doesn’t count.
And this makes you…….what?
PS. they made money for the owners as soon as you clicked on the reply button. Provoked, engaged users produce page views, the currency of new media.
Isn’t that what I said?
You nailed it.
I agree…in the editorial section.
This article is in the “Opinion” section….so it’s appropriate.
No matter, the “provoke & engage” is pointless unless they can make money doing it . Therefore money and profit making is what primarily drives a newspaper. A desire to “engage the public” is secondary to that basic need. If the marketplace placed more value on advertising dollars then engaging the public wouldn’t be as high on the priority list. Look no further than the number of newspapers that have “gone under” these last few years due to a decline in ad revenue.
They already did that a week ago. Do you suppose it’s more like “social programming”? I do. They only thing getting more print space is anti LePage rhetoric, and SSM. Again, “social programming”. It works.
SSM….you mean, the BDN is monitoring civil rights for all Mainers?
thank you BDN.
Don’t talk rot. There’s no reason to encourage “multi-culturalism” excepting to import cheap labor, which is industry’s Holy Grail.
People are free to move here if they want to – no need to import them from other countries. Ask townspeople if they want more people from foreign lands brought in to live at Maine taxpayers’ at our expense – and the answers you’ll get will not be friendly.
I’m not talking about importing people….find one comment where I say that.
All I am doing is pointing out blatant ignorance when I see it.
I think you’re saying that you know it all, and anyone who disagrees with you – with all your wonderful experience in some kind of media, is “ignorant.”
Get over yourself. Try looking at reality.
If we were talking about science, I would defer to scientist.
When we are talking about editorial responsibility, I defer to someone with press experience.
313 comments on the previous article….Ka-ching… ka-ching… ka-ching!
lets move in lots on inner city minorities and see what happens. I do not think it will help the economy . The tough job market will make it harder for minorities to compete . Please tell us what the unemployment rate for Blacks in Maine really is. No lying . I believe it to be about 20% . Lets see move 50% minorities to Maine and watch our unemployment skyrocket.
Why do that? we already have inner city crime in bangor
Yes and if you look at Bangor the area the new minorities seem to be moving to are high crime areas . The crime rate on Ohio street in Bangor has not gone down . We already have lot of people uneducated and not productive . Now if we recruit monorities that are above average in education and work hard that may help . That being said I would care to bet that the average minority coming to Maine today is not as productive as they were 30 years ago.
i went to barnyard last night there were quite a few brothers there
What about you? Are you higher than average in education? Would you qualify, by your new standards to move to that area?
No i would not not the help the economy anyways. That being said I do work for a living .
What experience do you have with minorities from the inner city? I know some who are earning 6 figures and have kids in college! Do they count?
Yes some are hard workers I am from Hartford CT. Minorities make up at least 50% of the prison population as a whole but less than half the population . Just saying if we brought in just random segments of the population it would not help crime. If we could find the best of the best it could help .
Do they live in Maine?
Anyone who has just graduated from college would be foolish to stay here. And so what if we are not that diverse. It is what it is. You want more diversity, Move to Washington DC, Miami, or Southern California.
this topic is getting old real fast enough already.
Why is it so hard for those promoting diversity to comprehend that maybe people of color just don’t want to live in a frozen (albeit beautiful) state? Sounds like they will only be happy if we somehow force OTW’s to move here. We already made it a welfare state, what more do you want us to do?
This opinion fluff seems to state that minorities would somehow stimulate the economy, yet they don’t say how. Jobs are scarce enough as it is. Perhaps BDN should put it’s money where it’s editorial is and fire some whites so they can hire some monorities!
its the truth…black people don’t like cold…most fly south (portland) for the winter
“Perhaps BDN should put it’s money where it’s editorial is and fire some whites so they can hire some monorities!”
Excellent point. I’ll bet if the BDN published a group photo of every one of its employees, the readers would be afflicted with snow blindness.
This is the most depressing, anti American threads I’ve ever read here.
Five stars for your comment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i9iTYe6tEk
Chappelle show chappelle show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOzR5Jnd6bU – American History X (best movie scene ever)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cdWNzrwqT0 – CAN YOU DIG IT SUCKAAAAAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7NmMSqDsv4 – Black Man gets hit by Ice Cream Truck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfvfr7q-1pI – Stone Cold vs. Booker T
I remember the Booker T super market one when it came on. Hillarious.
I don’t understand why people are getting so defensive about this. We’re not diverse, but that doesn’t mean we’re racists or whatever. However, our lack of diversity impacts our ability to attract new talents. That’s a reality.
As the article mentions, our schools have no trouble bringing in diverse student bodies, but as a state, we have trouble keeping them here. The question is, what can be done about that? This isn’t about tokenism, it’s about the reality that diversity is an important strength. For example, in business, the best ideas aren’t a single idea from one person, they’re the medling of several ideas from various people.
Maybe a good strategy would be with the state schools requiring every student in a Bachelors program to have an internship. That would be a great way to create ties, even if forced. It’d be helpful to the students, university and the state alike. There are productive solutions to this question about a lack of diversity. No need to freak out and act like we’re being called bigots.
I agree whole heartedly. Very intelligent statement. I’m glad you were the one to bring it forward. I can’t because Kevin would have thrown another hissy fit about me being a racist. Couldn’t be further from the truth
Very well put.
and what will making maine more racially diverse really do?
It helps when you read the articles.
I read the article. The B.D.N. THINKS that it knows, but then they pushed the M.B.N.A. give-away as a cure for our perceived economic ills too. Are you even old enough to remember what and where M.B.N.A. was?
More Babes Now Available?
;)
As long as ethnicity is a measure on any scale, racism will continue. Equality will only be reached when we have the lack of any bias or prejudice. Racial diversity shouldn’t help or hinder Maine in it’s growth, or lack thereof. Building a business climate within the State that is attractive to the right businesses, not just retailers looking to capitalize on our tourist trade, is what we need to compete in the National and International levels. The sign says that Maine is open for business….. Where’s the proof?
Ask the folks in Lewiston how “diversity” has worked out for them over the past 15 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-jH7iaPYw
YOUR NAME IS TOBY
I kinda like Maine the way it is. Maine also has a lot less crime than other places although the drug-related crime IS on the rise. Of course those drugs do come from culturally diverse areas, brought by culturally diverse people.
You make a very good point. The bureau of prisons web-page reports that only 73% of the prison population are U.S. citizens. 28% of all prisoners are foreign nationals.
http://www.bop.gov/news/quick.jsp
“The fact that Maine is less diverse than most other places in the United States “makes it harder to attract young, educated workers,” according to Philip Trostel.”
“Maine must become more welcoming to minorities by providing the opportunity for people to find satisfying lives here. ”
This is one of the most irresponsible and almost laughable piece of journalism I have seen in a long time. If there is any truth here, there is no explanation. Maybe there is no truth? First I read that lack of diversity is hurting Maine’s economy, then I read that it is Maine’s responsibility to provide (jobs) to minorities. WHERE ARE THE JOBS? Does the author mean more Chinese restaurants?
Journalism? It is an editorial, a unsigned one at that.
We lag behind in jobs and income too, we do lead in drugs and welfare.
I never really noticed we weren’t “diverse” according to some study. I always figured people didn’t want to live here because freezing to death is painful, shoveling snow sucks especiallly when the town plow truck comes as soon as you finish and plows you back in, and if you leave it over night it almost turns to cement. Driving is bad enough when the roads and texters are on it but to drive in blinding snow and ice being drunk and texting is deadly.
Can’t even get into the vampire flying bugs that fly up your nose and in your mouth and ears.
There are folks who cannot stand our cold and do not want to reside in our rural area’s. They prefer to be where it is warm, less expensive and where there are things to do. If you think about it, people who are comfortable outside all year long, are able to be active much more than we can. Only the few and the brave, reside here and like it, all year long. But…… I still want my 3 week yearly Florida vacation
White is right!
Ever hear of genetically engineered crops? To force “diversity” on Maine would be doing the same thing.. but sociologically. Why not let the demographic chips fall as they may and quit whining about Maine not having enough blacks (this is what you really mean when you say “diversity” but aren’t quite honest enough). Maine has a rich heritage full of “diversity” otherwise, with various European and Native American cultures amply represented. Why the sudden, intense push to meddle? The Maine public obviously doesn’t agree with the BDN on this issue. Maybe you should be bemoaning the woeful and dangerous lack of dentists instead!
I find it sad that people link diversity with Poverty and crime on here.
“It’s a newspaper’s responsibility to provoke and [enrage] the public.”
The humble Farmer
“Maine has the highest percentage of French americans in the united states. That’s not diverse?”
My wife’s maiden name was Paradise. If she isn’t diverse, I don’t know who is.
The humble Farmer
…and here comes the snake-oil salesman again attempting to tell us how much better our lives can be if only we will buy his product. Mainers who buy this line should be ashamed. The idea that we would only accept “diversity” if it brought jobs should be repugnant to any true New Englander.
We have heard this song&dance before. most recently when we gave away all our banking laws and a bunch of public funds to attract M.B.N.A. to the Belfast area. Citizens were told that “all the other States have over-limit fees.” “All the other States have A.T.M. fees.” All the other States have late fees.’ It wasn’t true but that is what we were told… right in this very paper. They said the Bank headquarters (turns out they had more than one headquarter.) would be an asset for many years to come. That it would provide employment opportunities in a “green industry” for our children and their children. Where is M.B.N.A. now? Bank of America (who bought them out) has only one headquarters and that is in North Carolina. They seem to find it difficulty to do business in Maine (even without interest limits and banking fees) and have largely abandoned the Belfast area. They are even selling their branches to Camden National which is a bank who has prospered under Maine laws, and knows how to do business here.
No, I’m NOT giving away my culture, way of life, or quite morning walks to the store so we can “attract more people”
I have no problem with any folks moving to Maine because they want to live here. I’m embarrassed that this paper would suggest we pay them to come. That’s a idea worthy of Lester Maddox who wanted to pay white folks to move to Georgia.
Charlotte Iserbyt claims that Maine is used as a guinea pig for social experiments.
If it works here, it will work anywhere in the nation.
That’s why we have one of the first, or the first, “Truth and Reconciliation Commissions” in the U.S.
Truth and Reconciliation Commissions were first used in South Africa.
Idaho has a university professor who claims the same about that State. Maybe one in the East, and one in the west?
That certainly makes sense.
“A new Brown University study shows Maine lagging behind other parts of the country in terms of becoming a more culturally and ethnically diverse society.” Lagging? And is this “lagging” a new development?
How about “loan forgiveness” for Mainers who stay in Maine. How about free university for all qualified students if they start a small business after their college years and employ at least one person a year over ten years?
When people who tell you something for one reason tell you the same thing for another reason, suspect both their reasons. Personally, I suspect that the BDN’s editorialists see People of Color as essential fashion accessories.
One of the primary reasons you can’t get people of various ethnic backgrounds to live in Maine is the same reason many local people leave Maine. JOBS!!!!! Loan forgiveness means nothing if you can’t find a job.
This is really getting old, and fails to include any positives about our region’s existing “diversity of culture”!
So far, Brown has been all about color: black, brown, red, yellow or white. Furthermore, I’m not “white”, I’m tan, or pink, depending on the time of year!
Anyone eat something at the Bangor Folk Festival? Seems to me I could have enjoyed Indian, Greek, Asian, Pakistani, or other “cultural” alternatives.
My daughter’s pediatrician was Phillipino, as well as a major youth hockey benefactor.
My broker is Indian, and his brother’s a very fine local physician.
My Scottish pipe band plays at Fort Knox, as well as Franco festivals around Maine.
Maine enjoys Native American, Russian, and Scandinavian enclaves that we all can learn from.
Come On with the color thing, and enjoy our existing BLEND of cultures from around the world.
Thank you; very well said. What Brown is talking about is diversity of color, not diversity of culture.
I have difficulty making the leap from the color of a person’s skin or their ethnic origin to having more qualified people to fill skilled positions. Perhaps more energy should be put into training current Mainers for those positions by coordinating training/education with exactly what business needs. Innovative training such as more appenticeships and mentoring students from Maine could help fill those needs.
Gosh simple and beautiful. We have the workers, all we need to do is train them.
I like it…. A-LOT!
BS!!
LePage has sent us 20 years in REVERSE…
That could be a good thing.
Multiculturalism is a Marxist goal.
It is used by the money lenders and gold merchants to destroy opposition to their diabolical New World Order.
(Asia for the Asians, Africa for the Africans, and Maine for everybody.)
Thanks, BDN. We already know what Miami, Chicago and L.A. are like.
We’ll keep Maine, and you can shove your New World Order.
DIE-versity.
Multiculturalism = White Genocide.
Seriously?
It isn’t skin color that counts. It’s the code you live your life by.
Dumbed-down worker bees for the NWO…
“A human knot?”
That about says it all.
C’mon, folks.
Why buy a paper or patronize their advertisers if they trying to destroy our civilization?
This is how DIE-versity works in South Africa:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Stage+6+genocide+South+Africa&oq=Stage+6+genocide+South+Africa&gs_l=youtube.3…611.3658.0.6294.14.5.0.0.0.0.860.1668.2-3j6-1.4.0…0.0…1ac.1.wgFWc380_g4
The whites in South Africa are undergoing a Stage 6 genocide, and the BDN has said not a peep.
Instead, the BDN has lamented in three articles and one editorial over the past week that Maine is too white.
Wake up, people.
Put a lid on it, you anti-white racists!
“Maine is a beautiful place to live and is full of warm-hearted people.” All very true, but obviously, he never met Paul LePage!
I have a dream that our children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Apparently that day has not yet arrived at the BDN.
Diversity is a result of freedom, but too much emphasis is placed on diversity when freedom should be our primary concern. Without freedom, there is no diversity! In my opinion, the article is trying to expose a problem that doesn’t exist. Maine has diversity, but just not at such great numbers and in time, she will.
Why do you think that Maine’s unique cultural demographic lags behind anything? It is a big lie to suggest that Maine needs to import more “diverse” residents. Instead, Maine has to discover how to convince it’s citizens to stay in Maine.
It is pretty clear from the combox discussions that the BDN has taken a small minority position on this issue.
Imagine that, a Rhode Islander telling Maine what it needs to do.
Soooo, the answer to Maine’s ecconomic problems is to send busses to places with lots of “diversity” and offer free rides to Maine. No questions asked. Maine could become the most diverse state in the country and the economy would still stink.
The lack of diverity is not what keeps Maine’s economy in the crapper.
‘Diversity pushes innovation, and there is a war for talent out there,” Carl Mack, executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, told the Pittsburgh Business Times. “If you don’t get in and get all of that talent, you will be in trouble.”
Yeah, ya, he’s right, some of the cultural talent is amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-eKHOgV6A
Until more lobster eating white girls in Maine learn to spread their legs for more black men from Ghana, well then, it’s obvious, she’s justa culturally deprived racist… hurts the economomo doncha know?
OK, thank you BDN for telling me that we need things like “Diversity Day”, “human knots”, and “incentives like loan forgiveness” to attract different ethnic groups and, thereby, improve Maine’s economic climate.
Where do you come up with this stuff?
a
How on earth do you equate Maine’s “lack” of diversity with the economy? How about the thousands of African refugees who flooded Portland and Lewiston and are now living in public housing, getting public assistance and even brand new minivans via the U.S. government? along with this diverse population, came a rash of new crimes featuring diverse criminals featured right here on the Bangor Daily News. Funny, once we got diversity, the crime grew, maybe Brown University should do a study on this.. This so called diversity the economy, not improving it.
I moved home to Maine after being in the military for several years and living in diverse cities and towns. I lived in cities that were 5% white and felt the fear and disdain of being a minority there. In fact, I was discriminated every day for having white skin but everyone has an equal opportunity to come to Maine. The government (via media) has NO right to FORCE Mainers to import diversity. You want diversity? look around. Portland is as diverse as you can get. All of the sudden in Washington Country, there is “diversity” and ironically, increased public assistance as if our own native poor were not already bankrupting the state. It is a slap in the face to every lobsterman, logger, trucker, police officer, service member and veteran, etc who works to feed their family. The following comment has no factual basis: “To compete for educated, young workers, Maine must become more welcoming to minorities by providing the opportunity for people to find satisfying lives here.” Maine is extremely welcoming of diversity! Maine is one of the least racist states I have lived in.
Funny, I don’t feel too comfortable in Roxbury or the Bronx so should the people there be more welcoming? It is not our job to accomodate people who want us to change our ways of living. Ever stop to think that maybe NO ONE is moving to Maine due to the poor economic condition we are in? and how about we take care of our returning soldiers who need jobs, how about welcoming them home? The majority of diverse people moving to Maine lately are the people seeking to take advantage of our extremely liberal social services and are living better than me because apparently their native states got the green light to put a stop to the handouts. Maybe educated, motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds are not coming here because there are limited employment opportunities, harsh winters, poverty and high fuel prices. If they are the face of diversity, I welcome them. But unfortunately, these are not the types of upstanding individuals I have encountered in Maine lately. Leave well enough alone.
Enough of this already. This is Maine, people are not itching to move here from other parts of the country. It is what it is and the population growth patterns haven’t changed for probably 100 years.