To discuss the racial composition of Minneapolis, we must first look at its history.

This city was originally the land of the Dakota and Ojibwe Native Americans. The area around the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Falls has long been a sacred place where they hunted and lived. However, in the mid-1800s, the U.S. government incorporated this area as a frontier.

Through land treaties, Native Americans were pushed westward, and European immigrants took their place. Among them, particularly Norwegian, Swedish, and German immigrants flocked to Minnesota, and their influence has shaped the city's atmosphere to this day. The perception of Minneapolis as a 'white city' began during this period.

The harsh winters with heavy snowfall, the vast lakes, and the challenging agricultural environment were familiar conditions for Northern European immigrants, and they laid the foundation of the city as they settled. Even now, many Minnesotans are descendants of Scandinavians, which is why Nordic-style churches, wooden buildings, and meatball cuisine culture remain throughout Minneapolis.

However, this city has not been sustained solely by a homogeneous white society. In the early 1900s, as industrialization began, African Americans from the South started to migrate in search of jobs, and in the 1950s, Asian and European professionals were drawn in, particularly around universities and hospitals. However, due to housing discrimination policies ('redlining'), Black residents were confined to certain areas, and this gap continues to this day.

The George Floyd incident in 2020 occurring in Minneapolis was not a mere coincidence. It was the result of long-accumulated racial inequality. Recently, the racial composition of Minneapolis has been slowly changing.

According to the 2020 census, about 60% of the population is white, 19% African American, 6% Asian, and 10% Hispanic. Notably, there has been a rapid increase in East African immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia, who predominantly reside in the Cedar-Riverside area of South Minneapolis.

This area is sometimes referred to as 'Little Mogadishu.' Additionally, the Southeast Asian communities that settled after the Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam wars have firmly established themselves, and recently, Korean immigrants have also been increasing. Interestingly, despite this diversity, the overall atmosphere of the city remains calm and dignified.

The unique 'Minnesota Nice' culture has helped ease racial tensions, but while it may appear peaceful on the surface, there are still income disparities and educational imbalances internally. The median income of white households is more than double that of Black households, and there is a significant difference in homeownership rates.

Once a settlement for Northern Europeans, it is now evolving into a region where various languages and cultures mix. The true charm of Minneapolis lies within its multifaceted history.