BOONE – Studies predict that by 2050, Latinos will make up 24 percent of the total U.S. population. Journalist Paul Cuadros says America right now is “angry and confused” over this immigration, but can learn lessons in acceptance from small-town North Carolina.

On Appalachian State University’s “Appalachian Perspective” cable television show, Cuadros discusses Siler City’s progression from a place of anger over Hispanic workers coming to work in the local poultry plants to a place of acceptance that Hispanic families now comprise a large portion of their community.

“The soccer team’s victory in the state championship helped people in this town understand and realize that these kids are just like any other kids at the high school. It helped them identify with that group,” said Cuadros, author of “A Home on the Field.”

Cuadros moved to Siler City to document Hispanic immigration’s influence on small southern towns. While covering the story, he helped form the soccer team and became its coach.

In the 30-minute episode titled “Soccer’s Power to Transform,” Cuadros also says the N.C. General Assembly needs to consider offering more opportunity for higher education to qualified Hispanic young people regardless of their family’s immigration status.

“If we have education a child for 12 years and that child has excelled and is of exemplary character, then we would want to see that child further their education because they’re gong to contribute to our communities in ways we can not foresee. We’ve invested our time, education and resources in that person, and if we invest a bit more, our return is going to be so much greater,” he said.

“Appalachian Perspective” is hosted by Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock. It airs in Watauga County at the following times: Charter Communication Channel 21 weekdays at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Channel 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and on MTN’s Channel 18 Thursdays at 5:30, 6:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. and Fridays at 12:30 p.m.

Watch video clips of this and other episodes at www.perspective.appstate.edu

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