Thread: Texas Latino Growth Pushes Whites out of Majority

http://www.dentonrc.com

Latino growth pushes whites out of majority
Analysts say demographic shift will reshape Texas

11:20 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2005
By DIANNE SOLÃ?S / The Dallas Morning News

Texas is officially a majority-minority state with a distinctly cafe-con-leche hue, thanks largely to Latino population growth.

TOM FOX/DMN
Students are dismissed at Garcia Elementary, a Grand Prairie school where 90 percent of students last year were Hispanic. But Latinos still trail whites and blacks in rates of high school graduation and higher education. Non-Hispanic whites dipped under the majority mark in Texas, around July 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday. And minorities now make up about 50.2 percent of the state's population, heralding further wide-ranging changes in commerce and culture, education and politics.

The transformation was predicted three years ago by demographer Steve Murdock, who sees the shift as a "mixed blessing" and one that indicates where the rest of the nation is heading.

The diversity brings a new energy and ideas, Dr. Murdock said, but it also brings challenges. It's now more pressing that Texas improve services to its 22.5 million residents, as its future lies with the minority population, he said.

Texas joins California, Hawaii and New Mexico as a majority-minority state. Five others – Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia, New York and Arizona – are next in line, with minority populations at about 40 percent, said the Census Bureau in a release Thursday.

The Lone Star State's new status is actually a re-transformation, said Roberto Calderon, a historian at the University of North Texas. He referred to Texas' tumultuous entry into the United States following the U.S.-Mexico War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

"It's a long time coming, despite the early history," Dr. Calderon said.

"Sometime before 2030, every single major city in Texas va a tener una mayoria Latina" or is going to have a Latino majority, Dr. Calderon said, switching into Spanish.

DallasNews.com/extra

Census data: Population estimates
Thus, the Texas of postwar national memory, of light-skinned oil barons and blonde beauty queens, is likely to blur in a state where minorities dominate.

Some fifty years ago, the movie Giant etched its tale of money and prejudice through two generations of a Texas ranching family. Many remember Rock Hudson's character getting beaten up in a diner for defending his Mexican-American grandson and his Mexican-American daughter-in-law.

Today, some see a contemporary echo in that story line in the family of President Bush, whose Mexican-American nephew is a Dallas lawyer.

And there are other signs of sweeping change in the state. At Parkland Memorial Hospital, eight out of ten newborns are Latino, and the No. 1 radio station in Dallas now has Spanish lyrics. The bustling wholesale zone along Dallas' Harry Hines Boulevard was recently rechristened the Asian Trade District, thanks to the influx of Asian immigrant entrepreneurs.

Two of the state's largest cities, Dallas and Houston, have both recently had black mayors. In San Antonio, a Hispanic mayor recently completed his term.

Commerce and culture

So what does this mean for commerce and culture in Texas?

It means that entire business plans are made around the R&B and hip-hop culture. Examples: Dallas radio host Tom Joyner and Houston's Destiny's Child.

And Asians, lacking in numbers, capture commercial limelight because of their high incomes and entrepreneurial might.

Tell Us:
What are your thoughts on the new census report? Vote | View Results
In commerce and culture, great strides have been taken to integrate minorities. Some simply see it as the power of the green, of disposable cash among black and Hispanic households with attractively lower median ages and larger families. The median age for Hispanics is about 26, compared with 30 for blacks and 39 for whites, according to the Census Bureau.

In the case of Asian immigrants and Asian-Americans, the households simply earn more income than that of white households.

"All this was projected," said Ron Patterson, a vice president at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.

"Most big banks like mine, and our competitors, are devoting a tremendous amount of time and money and resources to the emerging markets," said Mr. Patterson, referring to underserved minority communities.

Banks began this process because of the "overriding need of access to capital" for minority and lower-income entrepreneurs, said Mr. Patterson, who is black. In fact, J.P. Morgan Chase's efforts date to 1997, he added.

Florentino Ramirez, a Dallas lawyer, said his law practice is built around immigration and, particularly, the changing demands of school districts and their need to scramble for bilingual teachers.

In Dallas and Irving, for example, nearly one-third of the student bodies are now classified as using English as a second language.

"My business, though, would not be where it is if I didn't speak Spanish," he said. "There are huge market opportunities, and it is only beginning to be noticed."

But there are still struggles ahead in politics, as the balance of power shifts, and education, where more resources are needed for minority students, many Texans noted.

Politics

Like California, Latinos have pushed hard to take the governor's seat – and stumbled in the process.

And political analysts say it will take time for the increased minority population in Texas to shift the state's political dynamic.

"In the short run, you won't see much of a change," said Jerry Polinard, a political scientist from the University of Texas Pan-American. "But demography is destiny. It's like a big ship beginning to turn. It may take a while, but it's inevitable."

Mr. Polinard said the population trend suggests Hispanics will play a greater role in the electoral process and eventually hold more public offices. But the process could take several election cycles, since the Hispanic voting population is relatively young, he said.

"The Mexican-American vote becomes the key vote in the state," he said. "It will drive statewide elections."

And blacks and Latinos in Texas are forging important political coalitions.

From Houston, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who is black, has become an important voice on immigrant rights. This month, she spoke out on a bill that would have authorized civilian volunteers, such as the controversial Minutemen, to assist the U.S. Border Patrol.

At the statehouse in Austin, Hector Flores, a veteran activist, says black and Hispanic politicians have worked together successfully on such issues as preserving eligibility into state colleges and universities for the top 10 percent of minority students. Mr. Flores, the national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said there have been many disappointments, as well.

When told that minorities are now officially the majority, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said through a spokesman that he has worked to make sure that minorities have made up a third of all his appointments.

Education

For many digesting the news about the state's demographics, education became a key point.

Mr. Perry has proposed increasing funding to teach students who speak English as a second language, spokesman Robert Black said. Mr. Black called the governor a "passionate advocate" of salary incentives for teachers who succeed in schools with large numbers of economically disadvantaged students.

Dr. Murdock, the state's official demographer, who's based in San Antonio, took the news somberly.

His report – The Texas Challenge in the Twenty-First Century – was widely read around the state when it was released in 2002.

"The real significance of this information is that it further demonstrates that the future of Texas is tied to its non-Anglo population," Dr. Murdock said. "For the state to be competitive in the international economy, we need a well-educated workforce."

Blacks have made huge strides and nearly equal whites in high school graduation rates but lag behind in higher education. Latinos are behind whites in both high school graduation and higher education.

Among adults in Texas ages 25 and older, 79.5 percent of Anglos and 75.8 percent of African-Americans were high school graduates, compared with 49.3 percent for Hispanics, according to the Census Bureau. And Texas lags the nation in all education numbers.

In Texas, about 30 percent of Anglos ages 25 and older are college graduates, compared with 15 percent for African-Americans and 8.9 percent for Hispanics.

"If we don't create the means by which all Texans are provided better opportunities for education, it could lead to a Texas that is poorer and less educated," Dr. Murdock said.

San Antonio, the state's second-largest city, at 1.2 million, on the banks of a river with the same name, has long been a minority-majority city. About 58 percent of its residents are Hispanic.

"San Antonio, an old city with a long-standing Hispanic heritage, is a good indicator of what Texas is today," Dr. Murdock said. "And what Texas is now is what the U.S. will be in the future. By the year 2040, the United States is projected to have a minority population majority that mirrors very much like what Texas has today."

Staff writers David McLemore in San Antonio, Gromer Jeffers in Dallas and Christy Hoppe in Austin contributed to this report.

E-mail dsolis@dallasnews

Dianne Solis, to begin with, could we present this story from the very beginning in the light of TRUTH.

"Latino Growth Pushes Whites Out of Majority" Let's begin by giving your story a more honest title.

How about this: " ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OF MEXICANS HAS REACHED ALL TIME HIGH IN TEXAS. IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT AMERICANS WILL BE THE MINORITY"

Now we're talking HONEST. Good, clean honest reporting. I know it's a new concept for you Dianne, but keep practicing and you just may catch on!!

My fellow TEXANS, this we knew was coming. However, we are in a unique situation. We can turn this tide again. Starting in OCTOBER, we are going to take our state back. I forsee a day, in my life time, that TEXAS will be separate nation. That will guarantee that we will not be subjected to the bovine drippings of D.C. Stay vigalant. Thanks ButterBean for this great post.

P.S. Di, just for a tid bit of information for your readers, remind everyone the years GWB was governor of Texas, and how the Mexcian population skyrocketed in Texas, as well as during his presidency.

Just a suggestion. Sometimes people like to read those little TID BITS.

Also, let's throw in just for the heck of it another little TID BIT of info. Let's add to your story that it wasn't a lightening bolt from the sky that created this situation, (as your present story might make one think).

It has happened ILLEGALLY by breaking all Federal Immigration Laws and you might throw in against the will of 85-90% of the Legal citizens of the United States.

A nice ending to your story might be to talk about THE MINUTEMAN PROJECT, how successful it has been, and tell the readers about Tom Tancredo, Tom DeLay's recent call to action .....and oh....Dianne....seriously.....I suggest you REWRITE this article. YOU LEFT OUT ALL THE IMPORTANT STUFF!!!!!!

This is outrageous and I'll tell you why. This is illegal growth. This is harmful growth. This is growth that is designed to end our nation. This "growth" is an act of Treason against the United States and the American People.

How many of those 8 out of 10 babies born at the hospital had parents that paid their bills? How many of these Latino children have parents paying the true cost of their education in public schools? How many of these Latino adults took a job that belonged to an American Citizen and displaced that American Family economically?

If 23,000,000 Communist Chinese walked into Texas in September, would this be a positive or a negative? Would the Latinos mind? Would Texans mind? Would American "writers" mind?

If 24,000,000 East Indians walked into Texas in October would this be a positive or a negative? Would the Latinos mind? Would Texans mind? Would American "writers" mind?

If 25,000,000 Africans walked into Texas in November would this be a positive or a negative? Would the Latinos mind? Would Texans mind? Would American "writers" mind?

If 26,000,000 Arab Muslims walked into Texas in Dcember would this be a positive or a negative? Would the Latinos mind? Would Texans mind? Would American "writers" mind?

Lets see how many newcomers would that be? Around 100,000,000 new people in the United States. Good for Business?

NOW quadruple that to 400,000,000 newcomer into the United States in January 2006? Good for Business? Good for Texas? Good for Latinos? Good for America?

YOU DECIDE....because THAT's what the US Government and their Globalists are planning for the former United States of America.

YOU DECIDE....is that SATURATION POINT for the US Population (economic think tanks have arrived at) is positive or negative. You decide and do it quickly, because THAT'S what's afoot. A US population of 700,000,000 as quick as they can get them in.

Do we have enough jobs? Do we have enough housing? Do we have enough hospitals? Do we have enough schools? Do we have enough roads? Do we have enough farm land? Do we have enough water? Do we have enough oil?

Right now, the American People have the lowest personal savings in hisotry; the highest personal credit in history; the lowest number of new sustainable jobs in history; the highest national debt in history; the highest trade deficit in history; and we are the only country that could not afford to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

This is a formula for CRASH AND BURN!!

Any economist telling you otherwise is a liar and a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, a Fox Watching the Hen House, a Snake in the Grass all part of a TEAM OF EVIL that is willing to flood this country with more people than it can possibly support; that the TEAM OF EVIL has no intention or ability of providing for; that the TEAM OF EVIL will herd around and pen the same way they treat pigs, chickens and cattle. To the TEAM OF EVIL we are not Fellow Citizens, but "Mere Transactions".

There is nothing the TEAM OF EVIL won't do to reach the SATURATION POINT....many corporate decisions and investments have been made based upon this; long-term corporate strategies have been established to ensure it; NO ONE will voluntarily change their course, their strategy, their wicked architecture for the fall of America.

Reaching the SATURATION POINT is a PYRAMID SCHEME....requiring a NEW SATURATION POINT....and THEN ANOTHER...and THEN ANOTHER.

STOP THIS EVIL NONSENSE NOW!!

AND remember EVIL IS GENERIC. EVIL is blind to race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion. This EVIL is beget upon the Land, the whole Land, not just the United States. It STARTS HERE because the AMERICANS are the only ones with the will, knowledge, ideology and means to STOP IT.

Originally Posted by LegalUSCitizen

Dianne Solis, to begin with, could we present this story from the very beginning in the light of TRUTH.
"Latino Growth Pushes Whites Out of Majority" Let's begin by giving your story a more honest title.
How about this: " ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OF MEXICANS HAS REACHED ALL TIME HIGH IN TEXAS. IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT AMERICANS WILL BE THE MINORITY"
Now we're talking HONEST. Good, clean honest reporting. I know it's a new concept for you Dianne, but keep practicing and you just may catch on!!

It's almost like she is bragging, or that it's some kind of miraculous latino achievement.
Now lets see. Dianne Solis. Hmm. I bet her 'anchor baby' family tree could be traced all the way back to Mexico or some other illegal origin.
Texas has been invaded and is being ruined! WE NEED TO DEPORT ALL THESE ILLEGAL INVADERS. DONT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT IT CANT BE DONE. IT MAY COST US ALOT, BUT IT WOULD BE WORTH IT! AND PUT THE MILITARY ON THE BORDER WHERE IT BELONGS!

You said it Butterbean!! Like she's bragging or justifying all this.

Notice not one word about how this happened through ILLEGAL LAW BREAKERS INVADING THE USA AT THE WELCOME OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE USA.