Most White Americans are an amalgam of different nationalities or ethnicities. I myself have English, Scottish, Scots-Irish, Welsh and Dutch and even a bit of African and Native thrown in. To say I identify as a specific nationality is of little consequence because I am a mix of so many. I could argue that my Irish ancestors were mistreated by my British ancestors, and also that my Native and African ancestors were mistreated by my White ancestors, but to what purpose? The fact that so many White people have such a mixture does not really support a huge shared "White" identity in America other than Americanism.
Now we have Black Americans who were descendants of slaves, and Jim Crow policies who may say
"Well, we have a shared history of slavery and oppression from the White community." But again, what purpose does that serve in light of multiple Constitutional amendments and laws prohibiting the use of race, ethnicity or religion to discriminate, other than divisiveness?
The best one could hope for is a joining of those of various racial and ethnic heritages to regard ourselves as Americans struggling for most of the same things. Someone can wear green on St Paddie's day, celebrate Robbie Burns' Day, wear a Dashiki, celebrate Dewali or Ramadan, or Dia de los Muertos, but still be essentially American.
Most White Americans are an amalgam of different nationalities or ethnicities. I myself have English, Scottish, Scots-Irish, Welsh and Dutch and even a bit of African and Native thrown in. To say I identify as a specific nationality is of little consequence because I am a mix of so many. I could argue that my Irish ancestors were mistreated by my British ancestors, and also that my Native and African ancestors were mistreated by my White ancestors, but to what purpose? The fact that so many White people have such a mixture does not really support a huge shared "White" identity in America other than Americanism.
Now we have Black Americans who were descendants of slaves, and Jim Crow policies who may say
"Well, we have a shared history of slavery and oppression from the White community." But again, what purpose does that serve in light of multiple Constitutional amendments and laws prohibiting the use of race, ethnicity or religion to discriminate, other than divisiveness?
The best one could hope for is a joining of those of various racial and ethnic heritages to regard ourselves as Americans struggling for most of the same things. Someone can wear green on St Paddie's day, celebrate Robbie Burns' Day, wear a Dashiki, celebrate Dewali or Ramadan, or Dia de los Muertos, but still be essentially American.