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ABSTRACT:
Most of us realize that only so-called White folks have historically enjoyed the full privileges of U.S. citizenship. And most of us know that the definition of "White" has widened over the centuries. But grasping these points does not avoid all historical pitfalls. For instance, some think that, although the definition of "White" has changed, northern Europeans have always been considered White. Not so. Irish, Scots, even Germans were once seen as too dark-complexioned to pass for White. Another error is that African-Americans are finally assimilating into mainstream society. Again, not so. Census-reported intermarriage shows that acceptance comparable to that of Jews, say, or Japanese-Americans, remains far out of reach for African-Americans. Finally, some claim that White Americans will soon be in the minority. In fact, we shall show in detail that "White" has just been a synonym for "mainstream" throughout U.S. history. Hence, most Americans will be mainstream (called "White") for centuries to come. As we shall see momentarily, Puerto Ricans became White in the 1960s, Asian-Americans are becoming White as we speak, and British West Indians (Jamaicans, Barbadians, Trinidadians) are well on their way. This essay examines four surprisingly complex linkages between America's "race" notion and its assimilation of immigrant cultures.
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