During WWII, U.S. Saw Italian-Americans as a Threat to Homeland Security
I like this article because it reminds us that &quot;whiteness&quot; is not actually a strictly racial identity. There are numerous factors that make someone &quot;white&quot; in America, which makes them acceptable to white nationalists. These purity rules can <i>change</i> over time to represent what&#x27;s politically expedient.<p>Many young Americans are shocked to learn that Italian and Irish (who are often a baseline of appearance in modern America)were once not only considered not &quot;white&quot;, but were demonized even as much as other races that Europe has traditionally looked down on.<p>This is one of the primary reasons that fascism is such an uncomfortable situation for its citizens. Fascism thrives in the face of an &quot;enemy&quot; that can be defeated by force and a &quot;strong leader.&quot; These enemies will be selected by convenience, not rationality.