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March 15, 2024

I was reading an article on the importance of identifying as a Black American. The adjective “Black” suggests their shared struggles. It made me wonder if I should identify as “Irish American” rather than American? 

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The existence of Irish Americans is a testament to their ancestors surviving against the odds, but I wasn’t raised to be a victim. I was raised to have thick skin, stay out of trouble, pay my own way, and to know if I worked hard the sky was my limit. But shouldn’t I too embrace the struggles of my ancestors?

In the 17th century, the English cleansed Ireland of 616,000 people or about 43% of the population. After cleansing, their land was confiscated and tens of thousands were transported to the Thirteen Colonies as indentured servants.

In 1695, the British Penal Laws stripped the Irish of basic freedoms. In 1740, famine killed 400,000 Irish. Fewer would have died if British politicians had not enforced policies to exacerbate the famine.  In 1776, the Irish owned 5% of Ireland’s land.  

Graphic:  Liberty Enlightening The World. British Library.

  Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain.

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Most early Irish Catholic immigrants to America came as indentured servants. The Atlantic voyages were perilous. 

“Systematic villainy in the handling of human cargo was perhaps not so characteristic in this trade (Atlantic slave trade) as in the poverty-stricken white immigrants… I never saw an instance of cruelty in ten to twelve years in the [African] branch equal to the cruelty exercised on the poor Irish…They were to be delivered upon the cheapest terms possible.” 

There was no welcome mat in America for the Irish. Hatred followed them across the Atlantic and so did the penal laws. In the 18th century, when non-Anglican Christians found acceptance in the Colonies, the Catholics did not. It was decreed that: 

“forever hereafter there shall be liberty of conscience allowed in the worship of God to all Christians (except Papists).” 

Between 1846 and 1855, 1.5 million Irish died of starvation. Historians note the British didn’t cause the 19th century potato blight, but they did cause the famine. The British thought Irish Catholics that refused to convert got what they deserved. The British saw the famine as heaven sent. Today, this is called ethnic cleansing or genocide.

Famine wasn’t enough punishment. About 500,000 starving Irish Catholics were evicted for not paying rent when crops failed. The stubborn Irish finally had enough. Nearly 2 million migrated to North America, and most to the United States. Some were paid to leave by the government and landlords. For the Irish, the decision was easy: emigrate or die. A lot died enroute. Many Irish were half dead when boarding ships for North America. The ships were called coffin ships, and on average, 20-30% died.