Final answer:
The statement underestimates the proportion of ethnic minorities in the U.S., which exceeds 1/4 based on recent census data, with Hispanics being the largest minority group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ethnic minorities compose 1/4 of the U.S. population is not entirely accurate. If we combine the percentages of various ethnic minorities based on the provided data and recent census information, we find that Hispanics make up about 16.3%, African Americans 12.6%, Asian and Pacific Islanders 5%, and Native Americans 1%, totaling well over 25% of the population. Therefore, ethnic minorities actually represent a larger proportion of the U.S. population than 1/4. Furthermore, trends indicate that ethnic diversity in the U.S. is increasing and that Hispanics have become the largest ethnic minority group, surpassing African Americans. With the ongoing changes in demographics and immigration, the ethnic composition of the U.S. is evolving.