According to the US Department of Labor and the US Census Bureau, the buying power of ethno-cultural groups in the last decade has almost doubled, accelerating faster than the overall US buying power. The collective buying power of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos and American-Indians had reached $1.3 trillion since 2001. This is up from $647 billion in 1980, and it is projected to reach $4.5 trillion by 2015. This is a fantastic cultural diversity group contribution to the US economy.

Furthermore, African-American consumers currently have the most buying power or $571.1 billion of all minority groups. This represents two out of every three dollars spent by minorities. Of the 78 million baby boomers in the country, nine millions are African-Americans between 37 to 55 year olds. This group has 78% of high school graduates and 36% of this group members have a median income of $38.643.

Many diversity scholars believe that the significant cultural distinctions between people are culture. Culture, of course, refers to ways people live and interact together. Those distinctions are the universals that are common to all societies and all cultures. In fact, culture also encompasses value systems, traditions and beliefs, religion, language, national origin, occupation and social class, ethnicity and race.

Americans of different cultures and races are increasingly becoming comfortable with living together: According to recent statistics, 78 percent of African Americans, 61 percent of Latinos and 57 percent of whites said they prefer to live in a culturally and racially mixed neighborhood. Also, 58% of Americans support affirmative action because Americans in general accept the equitable principle that, for every wrong, there is a remedy. But at the same time, 37% percent believe that race relations and ethno- cultural relations will always be a problem in America. When it comes to marriage, 73% of all Americans approve of interracial marriages. However, in a 1958 Gallup poll, when the question was posed only to Caucasians, just four percent of them supported mixed marriages.

Cultural diversity expands the range of options open to everyone in America and elsewhere in the global society. Diversity of cultures is a vehicle for understanding, for cooperation and for development not only in terms of economic and material growth, but also in terms of achieving a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence of all Americans.

The process of globalization has created a rapid development of new information and communication technologies. That has facilitated favorable conditions for renewed relationship and on-going interaction among the cultures and the peoples of the world. Affirming that respect for the diversity of cultures, acceptance, dialogue and cooperation in a climate of mutual trust and understanding are among the best guarantees for cultural and ethnic harmony in America as well as for international peace and security.

Most organizations have realized that educating their workforce about cultural diversity is necessary and inevitable. Managers, supervisors, leaders and directors must also educate themselves competently and become role models for their employees. Through effective cultural diversity training they will develop a deeper understanding of and respect for the various cultures that made America what it is today.