children; and the social and cultural amenities that make it all worthwhile.
Right now, the South, more than any other region of the country, is living up to that promise—and not just for African Americans. According to the Brookings Institute study, the fastest growing metropolitan areas for minorities closely parallel the fastest growing areas in the nation in general. These also happen to be the areas experiencing the greatest economic growth. In contrast the Midwest and Mountain states regions, where economic growth has been flat, remain predominantly white. The lesson in all this? Prosperity results when the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not reserved for just some, but are enjoyed by all Americans.