There are a lot of Black firsts still left to be achieved in this country. One thing that surprised many African Americans in the election of Barack Obama was the timing. There's yet to be a first Black Vice President, and minorities have become accustomed to slow progress. Without consciously thinking about it, a few more stepping stones were expected before the election of America's first Black president. Not that I'm complaining, of course.
However, it dawned on me as Obama considered appointing the first Black Attorney General, that the other "firsts" might seem less lofty now that the ultimate "first" of Black president has been achieved. If Denzel Washington won his Best Actor Oscar today, would it seem so newsworthy? Would it be considered as grand an achievement? Mmmm? I think not.
Maybe it's a good thing that future achievements of Black Americans might not be prefaced with racial recognition. Instead of being a headline, maybe his or her race will just be a sidebar. Either way, the election of Obama might just make more of those firsts possible.
What do you think? Will the first Black person to walk on the moon be as significant now that Obama's been elected? If Black "firsts" are no longer recorded, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?
