Review: How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev

The concept of race is an issue that is often so taboo and controversial that many people ignore the construct of what race is or how it works or if it even exists. Today Latinos and Chinese are in the process of assimilating into the American culture but “native” Americans do not view Chinese American or Latinos as white; rather, they are Chinese or are identified from their country of origin (Mexican-American, Cuban-American, Columbian). People do not think that any of these fast growing American populations as white. It is often hard to believe that the Irish too, fit that category of “different” or non-white. Noel Ignatiev, in his book How the Irish Became White examines the process by which the Irish became to be identified as white. Ignatiev believes the race itself is not real all categories of “race” are socially constructed ideals. Ignatiev examines the concept of “whiteness” in relation to the assimilation of the Irish in American culture and explores the NCSS standard of culture throughout his study. Ignatiev believes that the Irish became white through labor, not their skin color. When the Irish first starting working in the United States their labor was cheap, therefore ensuring their employment. Irish workers ended up doing dangerous jobs that Black slaves did not do because slave owners did not want to put their property in danger. The idea of labor organizations came from Ireland and traveled with the Irish in American and soon the new Americans were demanding better wages and working conditions. The Irish had to distinguish themselves from Black laborers based on work, not race.