Why do businesses use Spanish billboards in Texas? (Houston, San Antonio: to buy, move)

[BeauCharles]

Always thought that the term "minority-majority" made no sense. When no one group is in the majority there isn't one. Period. Its just like here. There is no majority at the moment - not until the Hispanic population edges over 50% in 10-20 years.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

Texas is one of four majority/minority states. The four states are Texas, Hawaii, New Mexico and California.

This means that though people of European decent and NOT Hispanic (aka "white people!") may be the largest group as a whole, they are outnumbered by other ethnic groups.

Sorry, I know what you're saying, but this is not accurate for Hawai'i, where the largest ethnic group is "Asian," while the second largest is "White, non-Hispanic."

I love the fact that the most rapidly increasing ethnic group in the US Census is "Mixed."

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Sorry, I know what you're saying, but this is not accurate for Hawai'i, where the largest ethnic group is "Asian," while the second largest is "White, non-Hispanic."

I love the fact that the most rapidly increasing ethnic group in the US Census is "Mixed."

Yep. That sends some people right over the edge.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by BeauCharles

Always thought that the term "minority-majority" made no sense. When no one group is in the majority there isn't one. Period. Its just like here. There is no majority at the moment - not until the Hispanic population edges over 50% in 10-20 years.

It probably makes plenty sense to folks who are a member of a group that traditionally considers itself to be in the minority.

[kenshi]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Sorry, I know what you're saying, but this is not accurate for Hawai'i, where the largest ethnic group is "Asian," while the second largest is "White, non-Hispanic."

If I understood her post, that part of it was only supposed to apply to Texas. I guess it could be read either way though.

[Dopo]

Race, ethnicity, history have nothing to do with this post.

I'm talking about billboards on the highways that are in Spanish (FYI, you don't have to be dark skinned to speak Spanish)

If those billboards were in both English/Spanish.... that would completely make sense.
But I've seen several that were 100% in Spanish and I felt like it was a "bad business decision" because lots of possible customers won't know what it says.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Sorry, I know what you're saying, but this is not accurate for Hawai'i, where the largest ethnic group is "Asian," while the second largest is "White, non-Hispanic."

I love the fact that the most rapidly increasing ethnic group in the US Census is "Mixed."

Take it up with the US Census Bureau, I guess. Actually there are FIVE majority minority states now (latest info for 2012). Hawaii is definitely one.

Newsroom: Population: Most Children Younger Than Age 1 are Minorities, Census Bureau Reports

"There were five majority-minority states or equivalents in 2011: Hawaii (77.1 percent minority), the District of Columbia (64.7 percent), California (60.3 percent), New Mexico (59.8 percent) and Texas (55.2 percent). No other state had a minority population greater than 46.4 percent of the total."

As for the "mixed" ethnic group trend - like you, I love it!

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Race, ethnicity, history have nothing to do with this post.

I'm talking about billboards on the highways that are in Spanish (FYI, you don't have to be dark skinned to speak Spanish)

If those billboards were in both English/Spanish.... that would completely make sense.
But I've seen several that were 100% in Spanish and I felt like it was a "bad business decision" because lots of possible customers won't know what it says.

Given how many people in this state speak only Spanish, you could say it is a bad decision for a business to have only billboards that are in English. You referred to Budweiser - they have lots of billboards in English. Having a few in Spanish would seem to be a GOOD business decision as it expands their potential market greatly.

[kenshi]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Given how many people in this state speak only Spanish, you could say it is a bad decision for a business to have only billboards that are in English. You referred to Budweiser - they have lots of billboards in English. Having a few in Spanish would seem to be a GOOD business decision as it expands their potential market greatly.

Yeah, but he's talking about having both languages on each billboard so each one is understood by practically everyone. I'm sure there's a practical reason for not doing this but I'm not sure what it is.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Given how many people in this state speak only Spanish, you could say it is a bad decision for a business to have only billboards that are in English. You referred to Budweiser - they have lots of billboards in English. Having a few in Spanish would seem to be a GOOD business decision as it expands their potential market greatly.

I gotta admit that Budweiser was a bad example, because in that case it makes sense.