You may not know Philip Matthews, but over the next generation or so you will see him everywhere. That's because, according to experts, he represents in many ways the new face of America.
A new book out by John Kenneth White entitled
Barack Obama's America tells us authorities have observed by the year 2042 whites will be a minority. He goes on to write the Obama Presidency marks the end of the Reagan era. He maintains this means cultural, social and political shifts and the increasing dominance of people who were known in previous years as minorities who are growing in power and visibility. But what is that face of America and is this a face that people should fear?
In many ways Phillip Mathews is that face. Mathews is third generation Hispanic but also mixed with African American ancestry. His mother is full-blooded Mexican and served in the Army. His father, who was in the military during the Gulf War, is African American..
Mathews, age 21, was born in Augusta, Georgia and now lives in the greater Portland, Oregon area. He presently works as a plumbing apprentice for Happy Valley Plumbing. He gets rave reviews from his supervisor Josh Stevens who is pleased with Mathews work and attitude. Mathews is proud of his family background. He speaks fluent English and declares that's true of virtually all of his relatives, especially those under the age of 35.
In an interview with Mathews he said, "Almost my whole family speaks English. That's true especially of those who are under 30 years old. My family has been in the United States for a very long time. Many of them live in Texas. Even the full-blooded Mexican-Americans in my family learn English. I don't speak Spanish, but many of the full-blooded Spanish-speaking members of my family teach their children Spanish. The children go on to learn English." He goes on to say, "Many of the others, like me, don't even speak any Spanish anymore. My Mother was born in the United States, and she speaks Spanish as well as English, but I don't."
Matthews is a young American of mixed parentage, proud of his ancestry, getting good evaluations from his supervisor and learning a viable and needed trade. Although he may not represent the Obama America in its entirety with all the various demographic, cultural and racial shifts that are represented by the changes, he is a part of that shift with his racial mixtures and his stated eagerness to have a good life, to do good work and to be a full part of what it means to be an American.
