Indeed.
And moving beyond the racial aspect for just a moment, I learned a few years ago that my ancestor - one in particular, though he connected with a few fellow Irish - emigrated to Canada in about the mid-1840s or so. I can't confirm his Irish County because he traveled on board ship alone and as a youngster of about 14 years or so. He might've landed in NYC and was sent north, or he might've landed in the immigrant island close to Montreal - I forget the name.
The upshot is, his profession was listed as "carter" and "sailor" as he settled in the Kingston, Ontario (adjacent to Lake Ontario) area.
The guy couldn't read, but he sure as hell could reproduce.
Michael Lawless was my great-great-grandfather. My grandfather moved to the Detroit area in the early 1920s.
Lots of interesting things emerge when you study your genealogy.