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Who Is Pete Seeger's Song 'No Irish Need Apply'

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Discrimination towards immigrants is, unfortunately, a staple of the United States for many, many years. In the 1800’s, as Irish families emigrated to the States during the great potato famine, they faced no greater discrimination than the “No Irish Need Apply” printed on help wanted signs (“No Irish Need Deny”). Folksinger Pete Seeger performed a song dubbed “No Irish Need Apply” in 1954, and the song very much so describes that era. Seeger, well known not only for his Music, but for his controversial activism and lack-of-openness in his political views (“Resurrecting the Red”). While “No Irish Need Apply is not one of his more well-known pieces, this song truly provides the listeners to a fairly accurate perspective of the intolerance of the Irishmen who looked for work. Seeger’s piece begins with the narrative of a man looking for work and finding a help wanted ad, believing it to be just what he was looking for. However, at the very end of the advertisement were four words he was appalled to see: “No Irish Need Apply.” Rather upset by the phrase, for he was quite proud to be an Irishman as stated in the line that reads “…to me it is …show more content…

In that time, much like today, the United States’ citizens were rather concerned with which side you took and whether you were for communism or not. Pete Seeger was, in 1955, investigated for his ties to the US’s Communist Party and while under investigation, he refused to answer ANY personal questions revolving around his stance in politics, whether it’d be who he voted for in the election, his beliefs and anything else that he considered “improper questions for any American to be asked.” (“Pete Seeger, Musical Revolutionary”). While “No Irish” was released a year earlier, the narrative of Irish discrimination and his investigations could connect as a stance against discrimination and prejudice

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In McCarthy’s speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, he mentions how there were communists throughout the government. He targeted those treated well by the Nation, such as the wealthy and white-collar workers. Attacking people born with silver spoons in their mouths, those who are born privileged, and claiming the ones in the government are Communists increases the amount of fear the Americans had that communism was spreading. Despite McCarthy’s accusations that these people were communists, he never provided evidence that supported his claim. McCarthy’s “witch hunt” for Communists, also known as McCarthyism, was a movement he used to make himself more powerful and to discredit the Truman

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Appealing to the sympathetic emotions of his audience, he nevertheless, mentions the numerous and plentiful patriotic acts of immigrants, of which the native-Europeans would not do due to their laborious nature, “they do the hard work that native-born Americans dislike” (3). Speaking out at this time of prejudice in order to to clarify any misconceptions about immigrants, “ as patriotic as native born in offering the supreme sacrifice”. (4) In his speech Clancy, furthermore elaborates on how he relates to the immigrants affected by the Quota Act of 1921, with his first hand experience. Addressing any relating audience members, he pursues them to think of their own family lineage of which definitely has immigrant blood, if they are actual American’s at this time period, “my own family were all hyphenates” (5).

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As summarized by www.publishersweekly.com , “In this plainly written, powerful memoir, MacDonald, now 32, details not only his own story of growing up in Southie, Boston's Irish Catholic enclave, but examines the myriad ways in which the media and law enforcement agencies exploit marginalized working-class communities. MacDonald was one of nine children born (of several fathers) to his mother, Helen MacDonald, a colorful woman who played the accordion in local Irish pubs to supplement her welfare checks. Having grown up in the Old Colony housing project, he describes his neighbors' indigence and pride of place, as well as their blatant racism (in 1975 the anti-busing riots in Southie made national headlines) and their deep denial of the organized

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Sam Roberts in the article “A Decade of Fear” argues that McCarthyism turned Americans against each other. Robert supports his claim by illustrating fear, describing betrayal, and comparing it to other U.S. internal conflicts. The author’s purpose is to point out a vulnerable period in American history in order to demonstrate that Americans felt prey McCarthy’s negative propaganda. The author writes in a cynical tone for an educated audience. I strongly agree with Robert’s claim.

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1094 Words | 5 Pages

Sam Roberts in the article A Decade of Fear argues that McCarthyism turned Americans against each other. Roberts supports his claim by illustrating fear, describing betrayal, and comparing it to other United States internal conflicts. The author’s purpose is to point out a vulnerable period of American history in order to demonstrate that Americans felt prey to McCarthy’s negative propaganda. The author writes in a cynical tone for an educated audience. I strongly agree with Robert’s claim.

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In the reading for today, Benjamin Filene describes the controversial performance of Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Although the author acknowledges that stories about the performance have been wildly embellished since the event, he notes that “[Pete] Seeger’s backstage rage was real” and that Dylan received boos from a moderate portion of the audience because of his use of electric instruments, as well as the shortness and the poor sound quality of his set(pg. 184). Folk purists were allegedly outraged with Dylan turning his back on both the acoustic guitar and politically motivated lyrics which encouraged crowd participation. For example, Peter Yarrow, who introduced Dylan at the festival and also performed with his three-piece

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Throughout the film, various themes become evident; the most obvious of themes as mentioned was McCarthyism. McCarthy used the power of media to intensify the “Red Scare”, to the point that individuals began to question and judge anyone who they believed to be a communist whether they were or not. Although McCarthyism ended, it left many jobless, due to accusations of communism, “ ten thousand Americans lost their jobs because of their past or present affiliation with the Communist party”. Lastly, McCarthyism lead to constant suspicion and one might say it manifested hatred between Americans. Similarly the theme of dissent goes hand in hand with McCarthyism and is also prevalent throughout the film.

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The Battle of Antietam also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg is considered the bloodiest battle of the Civil War with over 23,000 casualties. The battle took place near the Antietam river in Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 22, 1863. This battle occurred during the Civil War which started because of slavery the Confederates wanted to keep slaves and the Union thought that was dehumanizing and not right. The Confederates did not want to give up the Slaves whatsoever so they removed themselves from the United States, and called themselves the Confederate States of America. In the battle of Antietam, the Union General during this battle was George McClellan and the Confederate General was Robert E. Lee.

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Joseph McCarthy, a former Wisconsin senator and anti-communist, once declared, “Our job as Americans and as Republicans is to dislodge the traitors from every place where they’ve been sent to do their traitorous work.” With this quote alone, one can see the numerous parallels between the ideals of McCarthy and modern government officials. Since McCarthy rose to power in the 1950s, Americans have distrusted neighbors, co-workers, and friends, believing they did not hold “American” beliefs and need to be deported. However, this is not the only way McCarthy and his views permeate modern American society and culture. Joseph McCarthy has had more impact on American society and culture than any other person in history, because Americans still have an intense fear of communist countries and their nuclear bombs, fear of other ideas and beliefs, and the amount of power and influence government workers can gain through accusations.

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It’s June 1948, a warm summer day in New York. Alger Hiss, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and his family reside comfortably on East Eighth Street. Fast forward to August and government officials are knocking down the Hiss family door. An accusation has been made by Whittaker Chambers: Alger Hiss is a communist.

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In a time of economic prosperity, a rise in the standard of living and rock and roll, also known as the “happy days”, the 1950s were a time looked back on with nostalgia. On the other hand, the 1950s were also met with many problems involving civil rights, the Cold War and McCarthyism. After the end of World War II, Americans came home to jobs available and a period of consensus. Consensus meaning there wasn’t much debate in politics. However tensions quickly rose throughout the nation when Joseph McCarthy made serious accusations about the State Department.

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After three decades of quiescence in the arena of gun control politics, the turmoil of the 1960s unleashed a wave of demand for new gun control legislation. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, prompted the country to focus on the regulation of firearms. Then the urban riots beginning in 1964 and the 1968 assassinations of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy fueled an inferno of outrage that demanded congressional action. This inspired this major revision to federal gun laws The death of John F. Kennedy, who was slaughtered by a mail-ordered weapon that had a place with Lee Harvey Oswald, inspired this major revision to federal gun laws.

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1784 Words | 8 Pages

What is more, we learn that there was discrimination against the Irish, followed by injustice that the ordinary person struggled against. It was Net Kelly,

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While my thesis focuses on the music that was popular in vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley roughly between 1880 and 1930, it is necessary to look further back at the history of the music and socio-political state that Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans had faced in first coming to America. The Irish started emigrating to North America

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The Thorough Breakdown of Poem Immigrants After reading and studying the poem “Immigrants” by Pat Mora, one can see and identify a few literary symbolisms that are used to express the fearful tone of the poem. This poems three literary symbols that can be seen are, a sense of pride, acceptance, and of course sacrifice. The tone of this poem show how much an immigrant has to sacrifice in this country, in order to gain acceptance and, therefore, be proud Americans. Although, they can’t ever stop being who they are, they must try and sacrifice their own culture in order to be Americans.

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