Why must it always be "First Black Man"

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Saltex

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No this isn't a hate thread on races, but anyway, after seeing a guy one the Axe competition, why must there always be a thing of "first black man" to do this or whatever kind of achievement, I mean you never see "first white man" and same goes for gender, "first white male", not that I care white never gets mentioned and nor do I hate that black gets mentioned, but my point is, why does ones race have such a significance on a persons first accomplishment, I mean for me when people start things like this, this is what causes some racial tensions between societies, why not just say "2nd South African in space" or whatever nation, why must there always be such a big deal on the persons race or gender. I dunno if it is just said because of the struggle black people had in the past and this is seen as an accomplishment for a black person, or a female, but all that is behind us now, we live in a generation now where the majority of us are all equal, the way we treated, educated etc.(not everyone but some), but it is things like this that just keep us separated the whole time and to remind us that our skin colours are different, why cant everyone just as one nation be proud, and I don't mean just South Africa specifically, it goes to all nations.
 
It's a false sense of accomplishment.

Being 2nd in something is hardly noteworthy. So they'd rather announce something that IS a first, even if it is of a lesser achievement. This is not about race, it's about circles of association. Same goes for the first woman/South African/Person from Limpopo/5 year old with only 3 fingers/etc. who happened to achieve something that was already done by a human being.

In this case the dude won a competition. Don't get me wrong, I'm jealous as ****, but it's not exactly a prestigious achievement any more effort than winning a trip France is.

Again, this isn't a racial jealousy thing, it's merely some group who wish to associate themselves with the achievement. Had it been a girl of any colour then undoubtedly women's empowerment organisations would've jumped on it. The same goes for when someone from your town or old school becomes famous. Everyone from that town/school treats that person as if they were on a first name basis, merely to be popular by association.
 
Something someone said on other thread (Graca cheating voucher) the competition was biased from start ...

For all we know Jessica Frew could be the winner haha
 
I am not one to jump on threads similar to this but on rare occasions when I feel the OP is isn't hate bating I try to pitch in so here goes ...

From my perspective, I think everything this that we see around us is conditioned.
Every thought is conditioned, meaning there is always something that informs the next thing.

I am a 40 year old black man who came of age during the trailing end of dark days. For me my future was full of promise for things yet to come. Those promises were in greater part informed by my elders who matured and grew up in the dark days. Their hopes and dreams were carried by the younger generation of the time and I think it is normal for this sort of thing to happen across all races.

Where I come from we were united not only by our race but our common understanding for our oppressed condition. If you can imagine life like that then It should not be too much of a leap to understand that when one of us achieves something that historically was impossible or never done before that we would notice and even take pride.

In my opinion the majority of people still hold on to 'first black to xxx' because of this historical reason.

When Louis Armstrong and his team touched down on the surface of the moon it marked a huge sense of achievement one that is generously shared among all man/mankind.

For may In my community though it was more of 'The white man is truly remarkable'. Even though it was a giant leap for mankind, we did not see ourselves ever reaching those heights because it was impossible the world we lived in. A world that offered steeper resistance if you were not white and western.

If you are still with me then you can understand why I prefaced by suggesting that everything that we think about is conditioned.

In my opinion then until black folk reach the moon on a regular bases or reach any of the achievements previously associated with a member of the white and western race, there are a few more of the 'first black xxx' around the corner.

I think those things are said not to take anything from a white person. My own personal opinion is that it demonstrates a shift in understanding levels in the white man because first he has to recognise the historical disadvantage before he lets (the white man still overwhelmingly has the advantage) the black man in.
 
qDot said:
I am not one to jump on threads similar to this but on rare occasions when I feel the OP is isn't hate bating I try to pitch in so here goes ...

From my perspective, I think everything this that we see around us is conditioned.
Every thought is conditioned, meaning there is always something that informs the next thing.

I am a 40 year old black man who came of age during the trailing end of dark days. For me my future was full of promise for things yet to come. Those promises were in greater part informed by my elders who matured and grew up in the dark days. Their hopes and dreams were carried by the younger generation of the time and I think it is normal for this sort of thing to happen across all races.

Where I come from we were united not only by our race but our common understanding for our oppressed condition. If you can imagine life like that then It should not be too much of a leap to understand that when one of us achieves something that historically was impossible or never done before that we would notice and even take pride.

In my opinion the majority of people still hold on to 'first black to xxx' because of this historical reason.

When Louis Armstrong and his team touched down on the surface of the moon it marked a huge sense of achievement one that is generously shared among all man/mankind.

For may In my community though it was more of 'The white man is truly remarkable'. Even though it was a giant leap for mankind, we did not see ourselves ever reaching those heights because it was impossible the world we lived in. A world that offered steeper resistance if you were not white and western.

If you are still with me then you can understand why I prefaced by suggesting that everything that we think about is conditioned.

In my opinion then until black folk reach the moon on a regular bases or reach any of the achievements previously associated with a member of the white and western race, there are a few more of the 'first black xxx' around the corner.

I think those things are said not to take anything from a white person. My own personal opinion is that it demonstrates a shift in understanding levels in the white man because first he has to recognise the historical disadvantage before he lets (the white man still overwhelmingly has the advantage) the black man in.
Click to expand...
Yes you make a valid point, but I do feel I have bit I could debate about, but out of respect and to not derail the thread I won't :)
 
When Louis Armstrong and his team touched down on the surface of the moon it marked a huge sense of achievement one that is generously shared among all man/mankind.
Click to expand...

Neil Armstrong. Louis is the musician
 
Just as it would be news if it was the first women or first whatever... It's significant and worth mentioning... You clearly have an issue with the black part being mentioned... Perhaps you're sick of all the black this and black that.... Get used to it... Gonna hear a lot more.
 
I don't have as much to contribute here as I would like to...

RiaX said:
Neil Armstrong. Louis is the musician
Click to expand...

+1

And yeah, it's probably got to do with being previously underprivileged. Like Obama being the first black president of the US. Although I understand some people have difficult backgrounds, we are supposedly aiming for equality. Not going to change really, especially in SA.
 
I am sure that if Louis Armstrong was first on the moon he would have blown his own trumpet about it.
 
I think it is part of our life to have sense of achievement and to make it newsworthy and special.
The first South African, the first team since..., etc.
I think my views are similar to Voicy's and I'm sure qDot also has a valid point.
 
I haven't been following this. This guy isn't the first black man in space. What wording is the PR using exactly? I'm assuming something along the lines of first black South African in space?
 
murraybiscuit said:
I haven't been following this. This guy isn't the first black man in space. What wording is the PR using exactly? I'm assuming something along the lines of first black South African in space?
Click to expand...

First black man. For qdots argument to make any kind of sense one must first assume that every single black person in the world was oppressed by whites.
 
View it with a sense of pride rather than with the view that he is receiving special acknowledgment because of his race. Do you see mention of race as taking away from his accomplishment?
 
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well, the way i see it (and its probably been said already), the "first" whatever is always mentioned because it's usually a white male (well a whole bunch of white males) that are doing whatever before the "first whatever" really gets a chance.
 
Incidentally - the News24 article mentions "second South African in space" - http://www.news24.com/Technology/News/2nd-South-African-to-head-to-space-20131222

Only by reading the second paragraph and then assuming his race based on his name does one realise he is black. Doing a search on the article for "black" gives only 2 hits: "Buy a Blackberry cash" and a comment by "Joe Black". :)

So the press release might have been different but the media isn't necessarily reporting on it that way (well, at least not News24).
 
Demon7 said:
Just as it would be news if it was the first women or first whatever... It's significant and worth mentioning... You clearly have an issue with the black part being mentioned... Perhaps you're sick of all the black this and black that.... Get used to it... Gonna hear a lot more.
Click to expand...

I think you missed the point. It seems demeaning to me... first black this and that - it's as if you have to make a song and dance about the fact that they were previously disadvantaged and so it's an especially big affair... I mean... it's unusual for a black person to succeed, right? Perhaps it's not intended that way, but it certainly comes across that way.
 
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