Just when we thought that we had exhausted the topic of “gingerism” (see our posts dated August 8, 2013, August 12, 2013 and August 14, 2013), we received another reader comment which purported to claim that gingerism may be grounded in a “racial or ethnic component.”

We do not take any position as to this potentially controversial comment, or have any particular knowledge about its contents, but we leave it to you (as does the commenting reader) to give us feedback.

Ralph Watzke, a lawyer and law instructor from Saskatchewan, Canada, writes:

“I do believe that ‘gingerism,’ especially in the UK, may indeed have a racial or ethnic component, as red hair is by far more prevalent among the Celtic peoples (Scots, Irish, Welsh) than among the English. People who have red hair are perceived to be of Celtic origin and thus targets for a disguised form of racism. …

Redheads are found in all European ethnic groups (especially Finno-Ugric, most prevalent among the Udmurts in the Russian Urals), also Jewish (e.g., Danny Kaye) and Arabic peoples, even non-white ethnic groups. I personally know two Lebanese redheads (who claim Crusader descent), and a Korean woman who had an American soldier father. …  So, what do you and your readers think?  Surnames like Roth, Rossi, Rudyk, etc. among Europeans and Jewish persons, are suggestive of a redhead in the family tree.”