Ethnic Groups and Discrimination

Irish Immigrants in America

By: Karen Perez

University of Phoenix Axia College

Eth 125

Charmagne McCartha

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination

May 15, 2011

    Irish immigrated to the colonies. Most Irish immigrated in the mid- to late 1840s and after. Irish immigrated because of a famine in Ireland and many immigrated to the United States, better known as America, the land of the free, in those days. There was much prejudice that the Irish immigrants faced daily. They were affected by discrimination in forms as dual labor market, redlining, institutional discrimination, reverse discrimination and glass ceiling, walls, and glass escalator. The faced segregation racism and prejudice but not as severely as other ethnicities.

    Irish immigrated because of the famine in Ireland. One of the main destinations of many Irish was America. However, after coming to America many British were already there and made life difficult for them. British considered Irish to be drunk, unreliable, and lowest of the low people and thieves. Most of America consisted of British, who were very high on themselves at that time and their society seemed to need something or someone to hate that the Irish were deemed worthy of such cruelty. Even until the early 1900s there were signs in shop windows stating “Irish need not apply” or “Irish not welcome.”   The Irish had taken on the prejudice and hate that previously was directed toward African Americans. After African Americans had been freed there was still hate from both sides that people dealt with. All the hate and anger energy was directed to a different source, a minority, the Irish. They faced segregation because they were poor and uneducated.

    Irish faced prejudice when immigrating to America. The racism was more subdued that what other racial groups were encountering. Job advertisements would say “No Irish Need Apply.” Irish Catholics could not see eye to eye with Protestants in America and had a bitter... [continues]

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