Back in the "Good 'Ole Days" race was not a topic of conversation. It simply was not polite, and more to the point, was usually not even brought up. Like many southern states, the issue of race was moot, because many families had been brought up for generations believing that whites and blacks were not even the same species. But Texas was still a frontier place. And, until recently, it was owned by the Mexican nation. These facts bring into aspect a whole new and heretofore under-represented race - Hispanic, those born with either Native American or Spanish backgrounds, and often a mixture of both.

As Texas was being created, there was enough land for everyone, and it seemed as if it would go on that way forever. Many Dons made their fortunes by bringing homesteaders to Texas. Sam Houston was one of those Dons. But, the vast majority of people who occupied Tejas (the Mexican spelling) were the Mexicans themselves (Note the great number of Texas towns with Spanish names). It seemed for a while that whites and Hispanics could live in harmony. Many different nationalities were claiming stake on soil in Norte Mexico, and the Dons boasted great harmony and overflowing abundance.