When Minnesota was a new state, thousands of settlers arrived, many of them from Europe. But in recent decades, the state has attracted large numbers of Hmong and Somali refugees. There are also thousands of people from India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Mexico and the People’s Republic of China living in Minnesota.
The state has become more racially diverse in the last 10 years, and demographers said that's especially true among children. About 83 percent of Minnesotans were white, non-Hispanic for the 2010 census, compared to 88 percent in 2000.
September 7, 1972 - After racial disturbances at several Minneapolis high schools last year, human relations programs are appearing in high schools.
April 20, 1973 - Migrant conference to be held. Discussion about how many might attend the conference, expectations. Interviewees talk about events that will take place at conference, a forum for migrants and response from legislators. Expect State Sen. Jerry Hughes from Education Committee, John Bowen from Maplewood. They hope 400 to 600 migrants would attend the conference, around ten percent of the 7,000 to 8,000 estimated to be working in the fields for American Crystal Sugar. For migrant workers taking a Sunday off to go to a conference is a considerable sacrifice in income. Most migrants work half a day Sunday, and go to church then work for the next five or six days. Reporter MFG.
January 8, 1974 - First speaker talks bout how the trial affects her personally because she?s Indian, it will affect her children, and says anything in that courtroom affect all Indians in the country, if treaties aren?t honored every Indian in the country will be affected. Second speaker says the Indians were first here. White people and immigrants who came here have a lot to learn about how to relate to the land and live in a cooperative and communal way. Indians know how to make use of resources and land without damaging and exploiting it.
January 17, 1974 - The prosecution responded to the defense's motion that the government has no jurisdiction over Indian crimes. They cited a 19th Century case involving a Souix member killing a member of another tribe. U.S. Congress made a ruling that the federal government did, indeed, have jurisdiction over the accused.
May 13, 1974 - State Senator Spear talks about the formation of the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights, a broad-based movement for gay rights in Minnesota, to bring gay rights into the mainstream of the human rights movement. The goal is to achieve full equality for gay people and rights in Minnesota, change the law, public attitude, educate people, politicize, and create a better life in Minnesota for gay people.
May 24, 1974 - Minneapolis' Snoose Boulevard is now the Cedar/Riverside area. But at the turn of the century it was a neighborhood of Scandanavian immigrants. Now days the past is remembered with the Third Annual Snoose Boulevard Festival with song, dance and costumes. The son of the famous Swedish vaudeville commedian, Olle Skratthurt is interviewed.
January 6, 1975 - Spear talks about the need to make a distinction between moral and non-moral issues in making legislative decisions. He says a legislator is supposed to represent independent judgment, particularly in cases of human rights issues. He speaks about voting for gay rights in the legislature, gays holding public office, and why he makes a public statment on being gay.
March 31, 1975 - This bill has had almost universal support from civil rights and humanist organizations. In fact the only voice raised in lukewarm opposition was John Markin, attorney from the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
April 11, 1975 - A special report on the life, history and problems of the Mexican-American in Minnesota.
August 25, 1975 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews columnist and author Jim Klobuchar, who discusses diversity, immigration, and racism in Minnesota.