Can you be black and irish ?

Question

an irish citizen yes of course...

but when i say i'm irish i'm referring to my culture

not my nationality

so can someone be black and truly irish?

Answer 1

You ask an interesting question. Most people refer to the nation when talking about their culture. For example, I live in America, so I'm an American. But my grandmother emigrated from Canada, and her parents came to Canada from England and Scotland. My dad's family has been in America a lot longer, but he has researched his family geneology and found out the his dad's ancestors also came from Scotland by way of Ireland. So even though I'm American by birth, I'm mostly Scottish by heritage.

So, if your family came from Africa, and all of your ancestors were black in skin color, but you personally were born and raised in Ireland, then yes, you would be black and Irish.

What caught my attention in your question was that back in the 60s and 70s when I was growing up, there was a term used to decsribe people who were Irish, but didn't have the "typical" Irish features (fair skin, red or light colored hair). If they had a darker complexion and black hair, but were still from Ireland, they were called "Black Irish". My husband has been refered to by this term, because he's of Irish descent, but has jet black hair and blue eyes.

Answer 2

If they were brought up here yes, if they came later in life then they would culturally be mixed, but their children would be Irish.

Answer 3

If he/she were born and raised in Ireland why not... unless he/she decides to stick to the traditions and culture of his family's country.

Answer 4

Paul McGrath , Phil Lynett , Samantha Mumba to name a few , these people and more as are Irish as me and you

Answer 5

I'm sure some black dude got drunk in the middle ages and staggered up from Egypt one day, bringing his woman with him, and made love amidst the endless prairies of potatoes, far before the famine stuck in.

Answer 6

If you were born raised and at least one parent was Irish then yes you can be black and Irish. If you mean you have a grandparent or greatgrandparent Irish, then no you are technically not Irish just have some Irish blood in you.

Answer 7

Yes, if you are born here and embrace our nationallity and culture...infact I know one

Answer 8

yeah of course you can, i esp love the little Irish balck fella in my daughters class with one of the strongest dub accents ever and i live in meath, its class LOL :)

Answer 9

Interesting question...

Yes, but that depends on the opening of the mindset of the Irish themselves, doesn't it? The Irish seem to be able to include a differently colored new Irish. I am not Irish, but I would consider someone black who is a citizen of Ireland to be Irish or African-Irish. Just as an Irish person immigrating to the US would be American and Irish-American. One adapts the culture of the new country if one immigrates, infusing it with the persons original homeland. So they would also be culturally Irish.

You actually are referring to not your culture but your ethnicity. New world countries (Canada, Australia, the US) that are multi-cultural accept the differences that occur in self identified groups - that is - citizenship, ethnicity and culture. Many countries that are more homogeneous have never had to deal with these issues (and have made fun at times of self identified Irish Canadians and Irish Americans)

After a few generations someone of any culture can be considered truly Irish regardless of original heritage. The thing I have always found odd about some European mindsets is that someone who is of a non-white race is allowed their cultural heritage (African-American, Chinese-Australian, Anglo-Indian , etc...) but a Caucasian person is often mocked by laying claim to their cultural background. A Italian American is told that they are not Italian, whereas a Japanese-American, due only to skin color, is allowed their dual heritage.

It's an odd judgement.

Technically, since we  all migrated ages ago from Africa in the first place, I suppose we are really just faded blacks...which is sad, because I could use a little color.

Answer 10

Yes.

It is not unusual over here, I don't understand why people think it is!

Answer 11

For sure homie ;)

Answer 12

yea sure