[bdcs]

> just as it took time for the Irish or Italians to assimilate ... For a variety of reasons, assimilation across racial lines is much more difficult

In early America, the Irish and Italians immigrants were not considered white, like the British and Germans were. They assimilated across racial lines and joined the "white race". And, indeed, many more races will in time. Incidentally, Mexicans were considered white for about 70 years until 1920.

"Among those not considered white were the Slavs, Greeks, Italians and other Mediterranean peoples." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_whiteness_in_th...

[bokonist]

The usage of words has shifted, but my point remains. The genetic/ethnic/racial difference between Irish and British was much, much less than that between the British and Black Africans. So my point remains that it may be much more difficult to assimilate across very large ethnic/racial differences.