What does it mean to be classified as “the first” in something? And why does this term most often apply to historically marginalized groups of people, such as women, African-Americans, etc.?

Being classified as the first can be a distraction that prevents us from seeing the whole person. The category of one, that they now belong to, makes it difficult to fully recognize their contribution. And as we discuss their accomplishments with the disclaimer “The first…..”, they are left with an asterisk (*) next to their name that encourages people to read the fine print.

The perception for some may be that the label of “first” elevates their accomplishments, putting them on a pedestal of sorts, or marking their place in history. But, the distinction would not be valid or needed in an environment where an equal playing field existed.

The misguided representation of a person’s accomplishments, based heavily on their human attributes, perpetuates the very bias that is the basis for the given distinction.

Let’s look at the simple illustration below to visualize this point…

Equal playing field (group A):

– There is no distinction in the circles.

– No room for bias based on a difference in attributes.

Distinction of person (Group B):

– The one dark circle stands out and appears isolated from the group.

– Opportunity for bias based on a difference in attributes.

Distinction of person + the first (Group C):

– Carrying the banner, while it may look appealing, can get heavy and become a burden.

– There is an illusion that somehow the darker circles accomplishments hold more weight, which can foster an invisible divide.

Celebrating “the first” based on distinct human attributes, gives me pause. It strengthens an invisible divide, while diminishing the rightful accomplishments of an individual, as well as the group of people they are the “first” of. It also manifests and feeds damaging illusions, while creating polarizing beliefs. There is no disclaimer, no asterisk, no special banner needed for exceptional achievements, when an equal playing field is in existence.

Generational preferences that determine what’s “in style” in terms of language or lifestyle for a particular group of people can be hard to keep up with. And if you’ve ever worked or spent significant time with younger people, you may have felt your personal style was being threatened while in their presence.

What I’ve learned is that being authentic and who we really are is always in style. In my work with younger students, I’ve recognized that the words, phrases and behaviors that are accepted as cool, will change like the wind. The one constant is that being who we are will always connect on some level.

Generational style benefits from us being inspired by alternative expressions of our environment, while not losing ourselves in the process. Our differences make our world interesting – Be “in style” with yourself first.

The other day I observed the logistics of a mailbox that did not have any room for the addition of junk mail. The mass produced papers that include recognizable coupons and advertisements were tucked to the side in a corner where residents could acquire at their discretion. As I would imagine, given the clear choice, none of the junk mail seemed to be collected by anyone.

This made me realize, when there’s no room for junk, there’s no room for junk. How do we make our environments so that only the things that are relevant and bring value to our lives are allowed in? If there is a massive amount of junk we are consuming, maybe our container for it is too large? Let junk exist in a side corner somewhere, we may have to walk by it often, but that doesn’t mean we have to grab it for our own lives.