Hispanic Entrepreneurship
Attended a meeting today with an Associate Professor (pioneering the discussion), the Director Entrepreneurship Program, the MBA Director, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Business and four affluent Hispanics. The topic was to discuss increasing Hispanic Entrepreneurship opportunities in the bay area and more specifically in our college.
It was interesting to note that one of the articles handed out (from Businessweek July 18 2005) detailed the increase in illegal immigrants or as the more politically correct term says, undocumented immigrants. And because their population is no longer possible to ignore, or more accurately put - unwise to ignore due to their increasing purchasing power, many corporations are beginning to target their business at these undocumented Hispanics.
“By finding ways to treat illegals like any other other consumers, companies are in effect legalizing - and legitimizing - millions of people who technically have no right to be in the U.S.” (p58)
The article goes on to show statistics of the population size, which was further illustrated by the Associate Professor, indicating that the projected Hispanic population in California alone by 2050 will be 50% of the total population. That’s a scary number but is also effective in putting across the fact that “There’s no point in pretending that millions of people aren’t here, so let’s find ways to deal with them.” (p60)
As a person fairly new to the immigrant population and especially to the facts behind the immigrant population in the US, I am nevertheless confounded by how some citizens can get so uptight about immigrants when they themselves were very likely immigrants too. I’m fairly certain that it is exactly how the native Indians would probably define the Caucasians who came over from Europe. Hence, if this first batch of immigrants could turn around the country and bring it to the the level of affluence it has today, what makes them think that the new batch of immigrants will do any worse?
Change is a painful but crucial process for evolution to succeed. The immigrants of yesteryear have now acculturated to form the current generation of Americans. The immigrants of today will form the next generation. No questions about it.
So if you are not already on the bandwagon learning how to reach this new emerging market, think about it. Really. And if you are still moaning about the influx if illegal immigrants taking away your jobs, then perhaps you need to dig a hole and bury your head in the ground. I suspect that will be the only way to help your problem go away.
