How did the Irish become white?

Question

Think of the political movements of women and the rights of African Slaves. This question is a bit remote but I'm yearning to know what you think!

Answer 1

Well, this is what I have been reading concerning this issue:
"In the first half of the 19th century, some three million Irish emigrated to America, trading a ruling elite of Anglo-Irish Anglicans for one of WASPs. The Irish immigrants were (self-evidently) not Anglo-Saxon; most were not Protestant; and, as far as many of the nativists were concerned, they weren't white, either. Just how, in the years surrounding the Civil War, the Irish evolved from an oppressed, unwelcome social class to become part of a white racial class....."
".....the Irish were initially discriminated against in the United States and "became white" by embracing racism, a concept Ignatiev (citing Daniel O'Connell) says they learned in the United States. Ignatiev targets the Irish because they were the largest immigrant group to compete with blacks for manual labor jobs."

Answer 2

How The Irish Became White

Answer 3

The Irish were a discriminated subgroup. "Irish need not apply" and such. Even separate Irish only regiments in the Civil War.

How did they become "white"? Numbers and machine politics. Some strategic politicians realized that they could use the ethnic bonds of the Irish to their political advantages. The Irish were motivated to form voting blocs in order to elect the machine's candidate. As a result, the Irish were rewarded with municipal jobs -- firemen, police officers, etc -- motivating them to keep voting in the machine. And since there were lots of Irish in cities, working in factories, they were able to gain control of many cities.

By controlling government, the Irish integrated themselves into the Anglo-Saxon protestant society -- though there was some backlash with the formation of reform movements beginning in the late 19th century.

Today, we have some remnants of the machine movement. Mayor Daley of Chicago is a direct descendant of the Irish Democratic regime. Also, many police precincts and fire houses are still dominated by Irish-Americans, especially in the northeast (and Chicago, of course). Third and Fourth generation, or so.

Answer 4

the question isn't remote its weird
since when is one of the original white races... Celtics have been around a long long time... not white?
do you mean when did they have equal rights in the USA as they like most new groups to enter were not accepted as immigrants when they first came.
even though they had their Ellis Island green cards!
they were "the dirty Irish."

kind of like the Mexico situation today
here's some info

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/irish2.html

oh, i see there's a book title with the phrase.... they capitalized on the religious designation black Irish maybe? they were never thought to be black skinned; they were not Americans like the American Indians and Italians and Slavic's and Chinese etc. according to the bigots of the time. see below for some example.

sounds like the authors threw together a little of each.. for a catchy title!!!!!!!!!!!

Ellis Island would see a new immigrant entering the United States. Old immigrants that came prior to 1890 were mostly from northern and western Europe. However, the immigrants entering the United States after 1890 were from the Eastern and Southern parts of Europe. The newer immigrants were not accepted as easily for cultural reasons as well as physical reasons (some were not as white as the old immigrants; white peoples were seen as superior).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island

Answer 5

They have always been white. Just not English. The gained acceptance by banding together. They conquered from within. They got into the police dept and fire depts of their cities ( both respectable jobs) and hence began their own good ole (Irish) boy club. With their jobs they began to set themselves apart from the other minorities until they were accepted as just plain white like the rest.

Answer 6

What do you think they are ~~~ GREEN!


Irish are white. Most have red hair and green eyes.
I am what is called a Black Irish. But that doesn't refer to my skin color, but my hair color. Some Irish have black hair and blue eyes.


You better get back to counting your frosted lucky charms.

Answer 7

the Irish,Scottish,Welsh,
Friesian,Vikings are the most recent leftover fron the Celtic empire or Race ,
they were descendants from the Nordics,suposedly a Martian race that evacuated Mars befor it colided in a cosmic disastre and lost it s atmosphere,
they had red.or blond hair ,with blue or green eyes.
nothing black about them ,apart from their magic.

Answer 8

Because they evolved in Ireland and Ireland is not exactly a sunny area.

Answer 9

Since when were they not white?

Answer 10

selling out