When identity politics erases individuals.
It is a comical offshoot of the over-insistence of this administration to highlight every instance of a special interest individual doing...anything. When Raphael Warnock won his runoff election in Georgia, there was the rush to hail him as revolutionary as a Black senator – despite Tim Scott being a standing senator already. Pete Buttigieg was celebrated as the first openly gay Cabinet member, a surprise to conservatives since Richard Grenell apparently did not count, given he was appointed by the accursed Donald Trump.
Today, it took place once again, as a Black female, Karine Jean-Pierre, fielded questions from the White House press podium. A number of news outlets tripped over each other in order to declare this a historic event, except it was not so historic. In 1991, Judy Smith was the first POC female at this podium – but George Bush was president, and we all know Republican officials do not count. Maybe we are at the stage where we can say, "She is living in her history."