Census 2000: Baton Rouge, Baker majority black

The statistics have been tabulated, and they are in. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the cities of Baton Rouge and Baker have a black majority population. The sudden population increase within the black community is a statewide trend.
With this latest boost in the black population, Southern University’s role in the trend becomes a valid question.
“In terms of economics, it has a tremendous influence by the amount of money spent and labor by students being hired around town in local businesses,” said Christopher Hunte, interim chair , the Department of Sociology .
The census indicated that there are 227,818 people living in the Baton Rouge city limits. 113,953 of them were identified as black or African American, making up over 50 percent of the population.
In 1990, 118,429 Baton Rouge residents identified themselves as being white. But the 2000 census indicated that only 104,117 were identified as being white.
Blacks are still outnumbered in the Baker city voter registration 55.0 percent to 42.7 percent, but they account for 52.3 percent of Baker’s 13,793 residents.
Another arising question may be whether or not selective admissions will effect the black population increase. Hunte feels it “will have an impact upon the population by the number of dollars SU receives from the state of Louisiana Board of Regents. A reduction of students will mean a reduction of funds.”
According to the Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research Fact Book of 1999-00, there was a decrease in white enrollment between 1995 and 1999. By the same token, there was an increase in Doctorate , Masters, and Professional programs at SU.
“Maybe whites feel uncomfortable, or there is a decrease in nursing interest,” said Colby Miller, a freshman nursing student from Covington, “It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Jodi Edmonds, a law student from Baton Rouge also doesn’t mind the fact that she is in the SU “minority”. “I have had a very pleasant experience at the law center.” She says that Southern has a “very professional environment.