My guess would be that a lot of immigrants didn't speak english, didn't understand it, so people assumed that they were stupid. Or maybe a lot of immigrants were simple people, not so smart and that's how it started.

This is a very GOOD topic to bring up and thank you for bringing it to our attention!

I have no data to prove what my Father told me at a young age but he told me the reason that there were so many Polish jokes is because Europeans were actually jealous of the wealth and accomplishments of the Poles.

I have never been to Poland but I do know that out of Poland there have been some creative geniuses who have created beautiful art, architectural structures and many other worldly things.

I look forward to reading the replies of other Poland tribe members!

Let's see if we can solve this mystery!

Maria Mercedes Graboski

I think it is rather untrue that polish people are more stupid than other. Every nation has its own very bright people and idiots.

Most emigrants from Poland are simple and don't know english too good (like poeple in Poland generaly ;), so this can be good reason for jokes.

PS. I'm not gonna brighten image of polish people with my english. Damn :| I'm sorry.

It started when copernicus accidently discovered how to open door using a door knob.

I think it might have something to do with history... historically Poland has been trampled on, over ruled, occupied, and at some points not even there... maybe other countries looked at the Poles as people who couldn't even govern themselves.
And with immigration, very often to get food on the table while the English language and culture was being learned, many Poles took menial jobs... hard labor, construction, that sort... and Americans, without thinking too deeply, assumed that all Poles were stupid, rather than trying to make it in a new country after being a doctor, accountant and so on. I had a cleaning lady who was an accountant back home, but here she was reduced to cleaning due to language and licensing issues. Had I not talked to her and learned more about her, I could quickly see how people would think that all Polish women coming to America might only be able to clean and such...

Its really sad how quickly assumptions turn into fact and after that jokes.

Actually, most of you are right, but you don't see the whole picture.

Poles who went to Great Britain during the II WW were highly educated, mostly officers, and are rememberd with lost of respect and sentiment, especially by the elders (however we are working hard to tarnish this reputation and we become the least liked nation in the UK:(:(:( ).

With America the thing was completely different (and mind you my great-grandma and her daughter emigrated, so I try to be as severe as I can:). So the thing is that people who went to America in the 1910s-20s were usually very simple people, who were striving to make it in the New World. You can watch 'The Fiddler on the Roof' - that was often the case. People from villages had to sell everything they possessed and do something, so they said: Hey! we could go to America, we have enough money for the ticket in the 10th class!
So there came a huge pack of unqalified labourers (but they came also from other parts of the world, so there is no reason to say that we were the most disadvantaged or anything), who stick to themselves and before even getting good jobs tried to bring their whole families and their neighbours (we are family people, ay?:). Nowadays, in the UK you can see lots of Poles who just do not learn the language, becaus ethey live among Polish and the 'just don't care'. That was the similar situation.

And then, under the Communist regime, intelligentsia could not leave Poland, not even mentioning emigrating. So the people who got the visas were mostly simple (if not primitive) people.

My great-grandma and her daughter (lovely ladies by the way) were not educated. I remember my grandma's writing- she hardly finished her primary school. It is not that she was stupid- she was uneducated. And if you can't communicate... there you have it. On the other hand, the bloody Polish pride makes us the smartest nation in the world. We have an opinion about everything and we are the best. And in America it just does not work. And we cheat and we lie. And that makes us somtehing to be afraid of. And the ridiculing is the most effective way sometimes (look at the Minstrel Shows).

This was a testimony according to my knowledge on American Immigration studies and cultural studies. Thank you.