Before We Were White

Off-Course

Before We Were White

Show Notes

The sea can be pitiless. In 1477, a small ocean-going craft was found washed ashore in County Galway, Ireland, with the dead bodies of a man and a woman still lashed to it. Of the innumerable maritime mishaps in history, none would have a greater lasting impact on the course of world events. Visit our website: beforewewerewhite.com

Follow us on Substack: Brian Halpin@beforewewerewhitepodcast

Support our work: beforewewerewhite.com/support/

Subscribe and leave a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Before We Were White

Sep 30, 2026

The death of Dolly Parton nearly broke the internet a couple of weeks ago.

Mar 5, 2026

In a time when political gangsters are mobilizing their base by appealing to "White Nationalism", it has never been more important to push back against the ridiculous assertion that "white" is an "ethnicity". The idea that the USA as a project is founded mainly upon "white culture" is equally ridiculous. BWWW Episode 24: "Give Me Back My Country" explores how country music - a musical tradition often seen as a signifier of "white culture" - finds its roots in America's mixed-ethnic underclasses. Visit our website: beforewewerewhite.com

Feb 1, 2026

Just over 5 years ago, in the aftermath of the first Trump presidency (which saw a resurgence of racism in the USA), I started Before We Were White as a project for countering the fake history underpinning White Nationalism. I've updated and recorded the first essay I wrote 5 years ago. Its content has become even more relevant today than it was back then.

Sep 29, 2025

No nation on earth fetishizes its military in the way the USA does. Do the lofty words of praise from US politicians match how veterans are treated? And if not, why not? In this episode of Before We Were White, we explore who actually fights America's wars.

Jun 30, 2025

A simple question: Why have "poor white people" - aka Rednecks and Hillbillies - always been seen as legitimate targets for vicious mockery and public ridicule by "mainstream" American society? The answer to that question goes to the heart of early colonial American self-identity. Visit our website: beforewewerewhite.com

See all episodes →