Whitewashing Whites

"White people, am I right?"

Well, maybe. 

It is true, whites dominate the population in terms of social, institutional, and structural power. We've pulled a lot of crap over the centuries. Colonization, genocide, and enslavement of our fellow human beings are all things that can never, ever be righted. These things have damaged generations of people for thousands of years, oppressing them and dominating every part of their lives. And this is something that white people, as a majority with a social responsibility to fix what we've broken, have to address. And now.

Now, I wonder: what about those populations within the overarching and overwhelming "white" category that have themselves received the short end of nearly every stick?

Before anyone jumps down my throat, allow me to explain. 

People of Jewish descent have, since the beginning of recorded history, struggled to survive in this world. True, they are, in many cases but obviously not all, white and therefore have that "pass" in some situations. But as a general rule, time and time again they have encountered an impasse with other whites. In some minds, they are their own category. Not white, not necessarily anything else. Faced with multiple occurrences of slavery, genocide, and horrid amounts of discrimination in today's society, should they be tossed in with the rest of the white population?

Clarification: I am a white woman of European descent. I am not Jewish, so these questions I am posing are purely speculation and thoughts that I have had when discussing race and racial issues with Jewish friends.

Another people within the white category that have persevered much discrimination are those of Irish descent. The constant degradation, assimilation and violence towards the Irish by both the English and American people have affected those living in these countries to this day. Their culture consistently ignored and destroyed by English, enduring famines and death, they got on boats to explore the possibilities of America. Immediately as they arrived, they were hauled off to fight in the Civil War - something they knew little about - and weren't allowed to apply for jobs or enter certain spaces. Today, Irish discrimination runs rampant in comedy and in public holidays (St. Patrick's Day) and is again overlooked. Should they be tossed in with the rest of the population?

Clarification: I am a white woman of English descent. So these questions I am posing are purely speculation and thoughts that I have had when discussing race and racial issues with Irish friends.

Of course, they still have privilege in today's society. 

I am not comparing their struggles to those of minorities. I am simply suggesting that, in contrast with other white populations, these two specific groups have struggled a great deal throughout history. That should not be overlooked. 

When studying whiteness, perhaps we discuss the groups within the white community that were also relentlessly persecuted by whites. Again, NOT to compare their struggles with those of minorities - simply as a separate discussion altogether.