Many Americans are wondering (and maybe worrying) about the impact of the growing Latino population. That's not surprising: in 1970 there were only 9 million Latinos (4.5% of the nation's population) but today they're fifty million strong-and by 2050, that number is projected to grow to ninety-five million. So maybe it's time to reflect on this important trend, not by isolating Latinos but by considering their role within the larger national context.

Much of the nation's attention has centered on immigration or more specifically, illegal immigration. That's unfortunate...