• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Hispanic News || Shirley Ann Flower Shop || RS Deer Ranch
March 29, 2023
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
  • AframNews Media Kit
  • About
  • Paper Locations
Home Lifestyles Culture

“The Firsts……” Don’t be bamboozled by “their” title

aframnews by aframnews
October 17, 2021
in Culture, Featured, National, News, Opinion
0
“The Firsts……” Don’t be bamboozled by “their” title
75
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

By: Roy Douglas Malonson

You might also like

The 2023 Mayor’s Campaign

Go Check On Your People

Women Who Rise

 “The first Black…” This is a phrase many of us are used to as our never-ending fight for equity ensues. From the first Black woman in space to the first Black President of the United States, being the first is a coveted position and highly praised within our communities. But it’s time to start thinking, are ‘firsts’ a symbol of racial progress in America, or a form of tokenism?

While breaking the hypothetical glass ceiling is something to be proud of, we often confuse the act of having the “first Black person” in a position with tokenism. The truth is, being the first Black person in any company in 2021, is a slap in the face and an embarrassment. These ‘firsts’ are one of many qualified and overqualified Black people who were overlooked, underestimated, and cheated from positions they’ve rightfully deserved but were not able to have because of their skin color.

For a company to boast about having their first Black person in a certain position in 2021 is the equivalent to them saying “Hey, we’re not racist, we provide equal opportunity, we believe in progress, take a look at this negro, he proves it all.” Corporations should be scrutinized for their lack of inclusivity and discrimination while parading around their few token negroes in the name of ‘diversity.’

What we often fail to realize is the immense pressure and responsibility of being the first Black person in a hostile all-white environment. Constantly advocating and representing for the whole Black race, always having to be three times as good as mediocre white coworkers to prove you belong, being looked over, the racist microaggressions, having to eliminate foundations of racist practices and ideologies within a company day in and day out, it’s enough to break anyone.

As Black consciousness takes on a new stride in learning about our own histories and inventions, contributions, etc, we start learning that many of our ‘firsts’ were not the first.

Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat made her a pioneer during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, but the actual first person to stand her ground against a white person on a segregated bus was Claudette Colvin, a pregnant 15-year-old Black girl arrested for her protest in 1955.

Bubba Wallace became the second Black driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series race this month after a victory at the Talladega Speedway. The first being Wendell Scott, the true victor of the NASCAR 1963 Cup Series, who was wrongfully denied his position after a white driver was declared the winner. Two hours after the race, officials found that Scott was the true winner and he received prize money without the trophy or press knowing the truth.

The Black Panther, widely considered as Black America’s first Black superhero dating back to 1966, comes almost two decades after Orrin C. Evans, a pioneering Black journalist and comic book publisher, created the All-Negro Comics, the first comic book with all Black characters.

And just this week, white folks “proudly announced” that civil rights pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune will be the first African American to have a state-commissioned statue in US Capitol’s Statuary Hall. The 11-foot-tall marble statue of Bethune will replace Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, a request made by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019.

Many of our trailblazing pioneers – who didn’t receive their flowers while they were alive – are just starting to get recognition. Most of the movement we see is due, in large part, to the racial reckoning from the globally publicized death of former Houston resident George Floyd, who was brutally murdered in broad daylight by a white, racist police officer.

We’ve been through so much, we’ve fought too long and hard, we’ve paved many ways and we’ve sacrificed too many innocent lives.  It is time for our beautiful, Black people to continue kicking butt and taking names and UNDERSTAND that even though they “tell” you that someone is the “first,” there may have been someone else who either actually was and was never given the recognition – or laid the foundation for others to soar in the greatness that Blacks have been commanding for years.

 

 

 

Tags: African AmericasAmericaBubba WallacediversityracismRosa Parks
Share30Tweet19
aframnews

aframnews

Recommended For You

The 2023 Mayor’s Campaign

by Bobby E Mills, PhD
March 25, 2023
0
The 2023 Mayor’s Campaign

In 1963, Ebony Magazine featured an article on the three best cities for Black Americans to reside, thrive, and live in. These cities were Los Angles, Atlanta, and...

Read more

Go Check On Your People

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
March 25, 2023
0
Go Check On Your People

Sadly, the University of Houston has lost another student to suicide. This is the second student to die by suicide within a month, and the third student to...

Read more

Women Who Rise

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
March 25, 2023
0
Women Who Rise

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are recognizing the organization and podcast, Women Who Rise, created by Teara Randall. Women Who Rise is a safe place for...

Read more

School Vouchers: Good or Bad?

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
March 18, 2023
0

Governor Abbott has made it clear that he supports a “school choice” policy and how Texas needs to “create an education savings account program.” This is about parental...

Read more

Are We Protesting for The Right Purpose

by aframnews
March 18, 2023
0
Are We Protesting for The Right Purpose

Houston, Tx – March 16, 2023. I have heard this loud protest about the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Taking over HISD. With a 2019-2020 enrollment of 209,309 students,...

Read more
Next Post
Puff Pastry Spoons with Jam and Custard Equal Edible Taste Tasters

Puff Pastry Spoons with Jam and Custard Equal Edible Taste Tasters

Latest Articles

The Ensemble Theatre Announces the Inclusion of Three New Board Members

The Ensemble Theatre Announces the Inclusion of Three New Board Members

March 28, 2023
Chasing The Rugby and Football Dream

Chasing The Rugby and Football Dream

March 25, 2023
Celebrating Champions: Jack & Jill of America, Inc. North Houston Suburban Chapter 2023 Champions For Children Gala

Celebrating Champions: Jack & Jill of America, Inc. North Houston Suburban Chapter 2023 Champions For Children Gala

March 25, 2023

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Hispanic News
  • Shirley Ann’s Flower Shop
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Afram TV
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?