Takaki-Chapter 6

Like most of Takaki’s chapters, chapter six is mostly an informational chapter. Takaki focuses on all aspects of Irish immigrants to America and makes a special effort to point out how quick the Irish were to accept white supremacy.

Takaki begins the chapter by stating that most of the Irish came to America out of necessity, not because they wanted to. Between 1815 and 1920, five and a half million Irish immigrated to America (Takaki 140). The Irish were being oppressed by the English, and the English landlords were converting much of the farmland into pasture in order to export livestock. This caused much of the Irish population to fall into poverty and starvation. By 1855 around one million had died of hunger and sickness (143). Rather than stay and starve many immigrated to America. Takaki also discuses the Great Famine. During this potato famine the entire potato crop was ruined for several years in a row. After coming to America, the Irish provided the work for many projects such as railways, canals, and roads. Although they provided this essential work, they were treated as dogs. They were thought to be drunks and unreliable workers and were treated on the same level as blacks during this time period. The Irish themselves became racists towards African-Americans. The condemned abolition and were unsupportive of the Civil War. Takaki then discussed the lives of women once in America. Most worked as either maids or in dangerous factories such as textiles. The daughters of these women were less likely to follow the same path because they usually learned to read and write unlike their mothers. Takaki concludes by explaining why the Irish were able to assimilated into American society so easily. He explains that the major reasons are because the Irish are white, Christian, could already speak English and were allowed to vote.

Do we still see consequences as a result of how the Irish were treated in the past in our country today? Yes, there is no denying that there are major consequences as a result of how the Irish were treated and stereotyped in the past. I don’t think that it is very common everyday, but there is one day a year when the stereotype returns in full force. This day is St. Patrick’s Day. On this day the Irish stereotype of being drunks and eating potatoes returns. There are silly redheaded, drunk leper cons running all around. This is a direct result of the stereotypes that were formed in the past. These stereotypes are false, and are very hurtful to the Irish in our society.

I was a bit surprised by the reading. I had already known that the Irish were thought to be lazy drunks that ate only potatoes, but I wasn’t aware that they were treated as bad as the blacks were. In fact, Takaki shows that in some cases they were treated worse. The Irish were given jobs that were too dangerous for the even the slaves to do. I learned a lot from the reading and now have a better understanding of our nation’s past.