Until 1945, the Irish used to treat Italians and Poles like human feces, i.e. like they treated nonwhites. The “ethnic pride” being taught in this case will serve the kids well when they are wearing orange jump suits.
I’m of Italian descent and know the stories. Had an Irish gal tell me on a first date that Staten Island was nice until they built the bridge and all the “guineas” came over.
Guess she didn’t know I was of Italian descent.
But by the 60s, my father would lovingly tease my Uncle Joe, who was a sweetheart and the only Irish person who married into our family.
And after Puerto Ricans and blacks started ganging up on whites in NYC, it was way past time to make the peace between Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish, etc., if you wanted to be safe in school and on the way home.