Most studies of minority group fertility assume that as assimilation proceeds the fertility of minority and majority populations will coverge. Differences between minority and majority are usually treated as temporary phenomena and often are interpreted in terms of the social, demographic, and economic characteristics of minority group members. Empirical evidence, however, does not fully support the "characteristics" explanation of Negro, Jewish, Japanese-American, or Catholic fertility. An alternative hypothesis is presented with respect to the independent effect of minority group status on fertility. Some parameters of the interrelationship of minority group status and fertility are discussed.