Growth of the Hispanic Population will be America's 21st Century Milestone

MESA, AZ (Editorial by Jon Garrido, Hispanic News) July 4, 2004 - Leaders in the Hispanic community have always said that the growing numbers of Hispanics in America is inevitable. The United States is landlocked with some 17 countries that are Spanish speaking, and many of their citizens who cannot find a quality lifestyle all want to come here, seeking the American dream.

America is the proverbial land of milk and honey for those hungry masses who are but a long walk from our borders. More than promising a livelihood and the American Dream, America promises a quality education for their children.

Until their homelands become equal in opportunities for their compatriots, this immigration into the U.S. will continue. The only way to stop the immigration is to help their countries become prosperous and promise them the same benefits that America promises them.

Hispanics are born entrepreneurs. Anyone who goes to Mexico will see the vendors in the streets, selling jewelry, fruit or services. When they come here, and find they have no jobs, many are resorting to starting their own businesses.

For this reason, Hispanic owned businesses are flourishing all over the country, not just among the newcomers but among those first, second and third generation who were born here and want to succeed economically.

In communities like Kansas City, Kan., on Central Avenue or in Armourdale and Argentine, Hispanic owned businesses are cropping up in every formerly empty and boarded up building in the community. The same goes for the Northeast portion of Jackson County. Many congregate in Olathe where the jobs prevail.

The community is driven by their sheer numbers in population.

It’s not just us saying so. The U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that Hispanic population growth will be a long-term trend in the 21st century.

By 2097, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 50% of the entire United States will be Hispanic.

The number of Hispanics has grown 13 percent since 2000, accounting for nearly half of the population increase in the United States.

Between 1990 and 2003, the Hispanic market grew 78 percent – more than four times faster than the national growth rate. Census projections show the dramatic growth will continue. By 2010, Hispanics will account for 15.5 percent of the total U.S. population.

As a consequence, in just a few years, Hispanics will represent a larger share of every consumer segment in the U.S. economy. The nation’s Hispanic population has been estimated at 39.9 million (U.S. Census estimates), making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic minority.

By 2050, that number is projected to grow to 24 percent, based on the estimated 67 million Hispanics that will be added to the nation’s population over the next 45 years. It’s a gigantic marketplace, and these companies realize that hiring and promoting Latinos, and understanding the Hispanic community, makes business sense.

Hispanic owned businesses are growing at a fast pace, and fastest of all growing numbers are businesses owned by Hispanic women.

Luis Ernesto Derbez, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a counterpart to U.S. Secretary of State, was in Kansas City recently, joining 48 consul generals posted in the United States and other government officials from Mexico City for the meetings in Kansas City.

Derbez said migrants have economic clout in the U.S. and in Mexico. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, migrants send more than $45 billion to Latin America and the Caribbean last year, Mexico reportedly received some $17 billion , twice what it received just a few years ago.

Their political power grows, not just in the U.S. but also in Mexico. It is estimated 10 million Mexicans and Mexican Americans will be able to vote in Mexico thanks to Mexican legislation recently passed allowing the migrants to cast absentee ballots from the Untied States which will allow Mexicans with American citizenship to vote in both places.

Other countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Honduras also allow their migrants to cast absentee ballots.