The state of texas has a unique and varied racial and ethnic history. today, nearly half of all texas are either latino or african american. historically, minority groups throughout the state of texas have experienced tremendous discrimination. the institution of slavery resulted in prosperity for large farm owners at the expense of after the civil war, many texans countinued to be denied basic rights-including the right to participate in the political process-through the use of literacy tests, grandfather clauses, poll taxes, and the so-called primary, in which only anglos could partcipate