4 ms·
German-Americans had been aggressively discriminated against before and during WW1 [0]. By the time WW2 rolled around, many German-American families had worked
by _iyig 7y ago
German-Americans had been aggressively discriminated against before and during WW1 [0]. By the time WW2 rolled around, many German-American families had worked very hard to assimilate and had acquired economic and political influence which could shield them from mass detentions. Even so, a small number were still detained by the government during both wars [1].
[0] http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath/immigrants-during-wartime http://www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath/immigrants-during-wa...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_German_Americans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_German_Americans
- rolltiide 7y agoGerman-Americans: Missed slavery, missed Nazism still indiscriminately expected to have white guilt Doesnt seem nuanced enough or productive for American society
- geofft 7y agoCan you avoid the passive voice? Who precisely is expecting German-Americans to have "white guilt"?
- rolltiide 7y agoNobody precisely is thinking of German-Americans The point is that this level of nuance isnt present, and it undermines the understanding of cultural groups within America
- 0815test 7y agoGerman-Americans were highly encouraged to self-identify as "white" during the Progressive Era, precisely due to the WWI issue and as a way of promoting some kind of unity beyond national-origin differences. Of course that still involved exclusion of minorities, and one can make the case that this laser-focus on race has had terrible side-effects (many present-day Europeans would probably see it that way!), but still. It's doubtful whether there even is a distinct German-American identity today in the U.S., the way there absolutely was one in the 19th century.
- rolltiide 7y ago> It’s doubtful whether there even is a distinct German-American identity Because comics will laugh someone out the room for describing their German Swiss but also Irish heritage. Actively encouraging people to “just say white” when within the confines of America or earshot of any Americans Its probably unproductive There are nuances associated with heritage that can let you understand people better When Im in Europe or Commonwealth countries people seem way more interested in where I’m from than any muddied grouping of color:heritage ratio. Would like to see that in the states
- geofft 7y agoSure, so who is non-nuancedly expecting German-Americans along with others to have "white guilt"?