How the Irish Became White

Rating:
Summary: Noel Ignatiev Has no right to comment on the Irish plight
Review: Any white person who buys this book should realize that it is written by a racist anti-white moron. This guy actively campaigns to "abolish the white race" (enter that in google). His title of "How the Irish became white" is like writing "How the dogs became canines" The Irish are white europeans, they cannot magically become what they were to begin with. And who would guess, this clown is a Jew.

Rating:
Summary: A sad revision of history...
Review: Apparently the Irish are now to balme for racism against blacks and their inability to assimilate into the white race...ya right.
The author has taken liberty in jumping to conclusions from scrapes of references as well as ignoring the Irish plight. The genocide of the Irish at the hands of the English is no where to be found... The tremndous racism of Irish-Catholics is not mentioned either. Where is the mention of murdered nuns and catholics? The books claims that the Irish climbed up the American ladder by pulling the black man off... This is simply placing blame where it does not belong. I suggest the author read up on his histroy to learn the facts

Rating:
Summary: Abandoning our rich heritage.
Review: Biased opinion under the facade of academia such as this is dangerous for Irish Americans in todays society. This books means to cause our people to abandon the rascism and bigotry that brought us to where we are today. Ignatiev seeks to destroy the high standing of Irish Americans in today's society, placing us below the blacks.

Rating:
Summary: History can change the present
Review: History is best written if it retells the story of the past to explain how we all got to where we are now. Noel Ignatiev's, "How the Irish Became White", is one of those books where the present is illuminated by the past. He attempts to explain how Irish Americans embraced the privileges of their "whiteness" in the United States over against the plight of their African-American urban neighbors and against the cause of the abolitionists, in order to cast off the scorn of their oppressed existence in Ireland and as despised emigrants in the New Republic. Ignatiev draws from a host of primary resources from writings of key Irish-American political leaders, labor leaders, journalists, and even religious leaders to press his point. Stringing together letters, literature, lithographs, and lyrics with this theme, Ignatiev does seem to get somewhat jumbled with the abundance of resources packed into his book. However, his work makes this book indispensable as a researcher's platform for further historical analysis on the subject. Of notable importance is Ignatiev's extensive analysis on race and labor relations in the Philadelphia area in this book. Ignatiev's book is best read as a historian's attempt to fill in where other historians have been silent: how Irish-Americans ignored or participated in the oppression of people of color in the United States to their own advantage. As an American with an Irish heritage living in Philadelphia, I would highly recommend this book to supplement other more mainstream histories of our difficult past.

Rating:
Summary: History can change the present
Review: History is best written if it retells the story of the past to explain how we all got to where we are now. Noel Ignatiev's, "How the Irish Became White", is one of those books where the present is illuminated by the past. He attempts to explain how Irish Americans embraced the privileges of their "whiteness" in the United States over against the plight of their African-American urban neighbors and against the cause of the abolitionists, in order to cast off the scorn of their oppressed existence in Ireland and as despised emigrants in the New Republic. Ignatiev draws from a host of primary resources from writings of key Irish-American political leaders, labor leaders, journalists, and even religious leaders to press his point. Stringing together letters, literature, lithographs, and lyrics with this theme, Ignatiev does seem to get somewhat jumbled with the abundance of resources packed into his book. However, his work makes this book indispensable as a researcher's platform for further historical analysis on the subject. Of notable importance is Ignatiev's extensive analysis on race and labor relations in the Philadelphia area in this book. Ignatiev's book is best read as a historian's attempt to fill in where other historians have been silent: how Irish-Americans ignored or participated in the oppression of people of color in the United States to their own advantage. As an American with an Irish heritage living in Philadelphia, I would highly recommend this book to supplement other more mainstream histories of our difficult past.

Rating:
Summary: "Historical Bunk"
Review: I approached this book expecting some Irish history and all I received was Irish bigotry. The author tries to claim that as the Irish climbed the social ladder in America with one hand, they held the American black down with the other hand. Using small scrapes of information from 1700's the author tries to support his views, which are anti Irish. It appears that the hate the Irish received years ago hasn't changed... and some people are still claiming the Irish are the source of the problems in society. In this case blaming the Irish for American Black's second class status. Don't waste your time reading this bound bigotry.

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening and easy to read
Review: I don't understand some of the negative critiques listed by other readers (or who I presume read the book, it's hard to tell). I recently read the book and heard a speech by Mr. Ignatiev and the label of "racist" doesn't apply. Pointing out how 'whiteness' became a major part of the Irish-American identity and a method of securing a better place for themselves in America vis-à-vis free Blacks and slaves, he introduces a very useful analytical tool for looking at labor, politics, and immigration in the U.S. The hardships of the Irish aren't glossed over and neither are the consequences of their support of slavery and race-based politics - a choice that many other groups have seemingly made in coming to the United States.

Most importantly, this book helps us to see how much we take for granted the social construction of ‘whiteness.’ The reviewer who commented that the Irish were already white might not have paid close attention to the history of Catholic Irish in Ireland (especially Ulster). They were treated as a distinct race and this oppression is depicted concisely, but effectively, in "How the Irish Became White."

Overall, it is a well-written history book that promotes serious thinking.

Rating:
Summary: A well documented and highly interesting book
Review: I found this book very interesting and well documented from period sources. The author describes the little known and rarely acknowledged attitudes and actions of one immigrant ethnic group, and how this group established a place in America at the expense of other groups. The effects are still being felt today.

Rating:
Summary: Racist Crap
Review: I picked up this book hoping to have a better understanding of the Irish past, and all I got was a racist slant on an otherwise abused people. It is sad that even in the modern day the Irish must still deal with racist garbage like this. Mr. Ignatiev should try reading more on the Irish before writing a book of half-truths and presumptions.

Rating:
Summary: Anti-Irish filth
Review: Ignatiev further reveals his hate for anyone of European background. See his insane book, "Race Traitor", for the twisted worldview of this nutty Harvard Professor.

The best review here came from Mr. Sheehan of San Francisco. Those positive reviewers need to look at either their own bizarre white guilt, or their racist anti-Irish, and in a larger sense anti-white stereotypes they have exposed in their reviews. Ignatiev must not be allowed to spread his filth. Intellectual discourse is fantastic, but when it is merely anti-white racism disguised as critical thought, that's strictly another.

This book has no place in ANY classroom, neither does its author.