Historically, around the 19th century and earlier, Irish, Italians, Jews and other southern and eastern European people who weren't considered "white". They were discriminated heavily in employment and also considered "colored" people for other cases.
So my question is how did they attain whiteness? Was it a gradual process? Or was it more of a conscious transformation? Additionally, in theory could other races become "white" or have other races started to become "white" in recent years?
hi! there have been a few threads about this; see these for previous discussions
How did the concept of "whiteness" as a racial identity develop and change over time?
When and how did ethnic groups such as Irish and Italians become "White"?
Were Irish people white...in the USA in 1931? (cross-posted from AskReddit)
Before the Irish became "white" in the US, how were people able to distinguish them as "non-white?"
One of the most famous articles for at least one of those groups is Karen Brodkin's How the Jews Became White.
(Sorry it's sideways. I had to choose between that and behind a pay-wall)
Was there a time when the Irish were consdiered colored? I'm Irish and I'm pretty pale.