Irish slaves myth

The Irish slaves myth is a conspiracy theory that says Irish slaves existed in 17th-century North America before the arrival of African slaves.[1][2]

Origin

The myth first appeared in To Hell Or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland, a book written by Irish journalist Seán O'Callaghan (1918 – 2000)[1][3] and published by The O'Brien Press in Dublin, Ireland.[3] Since 2013, the myth has been popularized by Neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers[1][2] in both Ireland and the United States.[1][2]

Reception

Scholars have widely condemned this myth as a far-right conspiracy theory that downplays African Americans' suffering throughout American history.[1][2] African Americans were enslaved until 1865; they were segregated until 1965; and they continue to experience systematic, institutional racism.[4]

Even though O'Callaghan's book promoted the widely condemned, far-right "Irish slaves" myth, it is still sold at the Sinn Féin Bookshop[5] run by the Irish nationalist Sinn Féin party.[5][6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
    • "How the Myth of the "Irish slaves" Became a Favorite Meme of Racists Online". Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). April 19, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
    • Pogatchnik, Shawn (March 16, 2017). "AP FACT CHECK: Irish "slavery" a St. Patrick's Day myth". Associated Press (AP). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
    • "The myth of the Irish slave, white supremacy and social media". Trinity College Dublin. October 3, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
    • "Fact check: 'Irish slaves' meme repeats discredited article". Reuters. June 19, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
    • McKee, Liam (2021). "Slaves To A Myth: Irish Indentured Servitude, African Slavery, and the Politics of White Nationalism" (PDF). UCSD Department of History. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3
  3. 3.0 3.1 "About Sean O'Callaghan". The O'Brien Press. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. 5.0 5.1 "To Hell or Barbados - The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland". Sinn Féin Bookshop. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  5. *"Gerry Adams to meet Hamas leaders | Palestinian territories". The Guardian. September 4, 2006. Retrieved December 18, 2024.