Irish Immigrants and the Discriminations and Prejudice They Faced

The Irish Americans immigrated to the United States by choice in 1798. The Protestants were the first to come to the United States. New York City was the main area where the Irish immigrated to. Many Irish came the United States in the 1800's as they were forced out of their home land by the English. The Irish faced prejudice, segregation and racism.

The Irish face prejudice against their religion not only in the Ireland, but in the United States as well. Many people hated the Irish they did not agree with their religion or their manners. The prejudice grew as the Irish poured into the United States. They were noted for being poor, dirty, criminals, and thieves.

The segregation they faced was, because they were poor and uneducated. Many lived in almshouses within terrible living conditions, and only aloud to live with other Irish. The shacks they lived in were so close to one another that it aloud for easily spread of diseases. They had a hard time finding jobs as many people would not hire the Irish. They were denied access to certain business and jobs. Americans would post signs that would say "No Irish Need Apply" or no Irish allowed (Gavin, 2000 par 10). The Irish were subjected to racism, because many people felt they were worse than black people (Schaefer 2006). The reason they believe thisway is because the black people tolerated the treatment and the Irish would not suffer the maltreatment in silence (Schaefer 2006).

The Irish Americans often suffered dual labor market as well as the rail road companies would advertise good pay and when mostly Irish Americans applied they would lower the way to about 50 cents a day. Both the Irish men and women were discriminated in the dual labor market as only the lowest paying jobs and unskilled jobs were available to them. When they would protest they would call in the militia and force them to accept the pay. Many Irish would get rid of their sure names, change their accents and abandon their religion.

The Irish faced affirmative action, because they were considered less than human. Plantation owners used the Irish to clear swamps, because they were considered less valuable than slaves. The Irish dealt with environmental justice issues as they were transported to the United States in ship over packed and poor living conditions as well once they entered the United States. These conditions eventually leading to diseases and death of many Irish (Gavin, 2000 par 6,7).

The Irish often faced redlining the discrimination of housing (Schaefer, 2006). Many Irish immigrants were secluded slum areas where it was the perfect feeding grounds for disease and crime (Gavin, 2000 par 6). The Irish were forced to live in small, run down, unsanitary, and expensive rooms.

They faced double jeopardy, because they were not only Irish, but theywere Catholics to. The Irish were subjected to several types of discrimination, because many of them were Catholics. The Irish faced institutional discrimination as they were not allowed higher education or higher level jobs. Their strong work ethics along with their honesty and reliability caused the institutional discrimination against them to be short lived. The finale from the Irish faced was the glass ceiling by preventing them from being promoted into better jobs. This is why many Irish immigrants had to settle for low paying unskilled jobs.

The Irish immigrants went through several discriminations and prejudices from the time they left their home land of Ireland and as they entered the United States. Through time they proved their selves through honesty and integrity. Due to the discrimination and prejudice many Irish immigrants have changed their sure names, accents, customs, and life styles that the Irish descendents today have little to no customs and traditions left. I am of Irish decent but I am not able to identify with them because I am considered American. I identify with the American life style, customs and traditions. I do feel terrible that they had to go through so many injustices so that today I do not face the same injustice as they did.

References:

Schaefer, Richard T. (2006). Racial and Ethnic groups. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from Axia

University of Phoenix Web site: https://axiaecampus.phoenix.edu/afm102/secure/viewclass.jspa?classID=66324&orgID=74

Gavin, Phillip (2000). Irish potato famine. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from the History Place Web

site:http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/after.htm

(2009). History of Irish Diaspora. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from YourIrish.com Web site

:http://www.yourirish.com/irish-diaspora-history.htm