Labels be damned!
…it is important to remember that labels are just that—labels.
Labels are all around us. We are constantly being labeled by our race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and even our achievements. While labels can be helpful in some ways, I think they can also be harmful.
For example, when we label someone as "the first openly transgender person to win an award" or "first black woman to be elected president," we are not just highlighting their achievement. We are also separating them from everyone else. We are saying that they are different, and that their achievement is only important because of their identity.
Labels can also lead to segregation. When we see someone as "the first black person to do something," we are more likely to think of them as a representative of their race, rather than as an individual. And that can make it harder for them to be seen as just as capable as anyone else.
Instead of fostering unity and harmony, we find ourselves drawing dividing lines based on arbitrary characteristics. This can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and even violence.
I know this might be a controversial topic, but I think it's important to talk about. I believe that labels are a significant issue plaguing our society, and I think we need to start thinking about how we can use them in a more positive way.
Labels can be helpful in some ways. They can help us to understand each other better and to connect with people who share our experiences. But it is important to remember that labels are just that—labels. They do not define us as individuals.
We need to start seeing people as people, not as labels. We need to focus on our shared humanity, not on our differences. When we do that, we can start to build a more just and equitable society.
Take the Oscars, for example. The Oscars are supposed to be a celebration of exceptional talent in the film industry. But when we focus on the labels—"first black person to win an Oscar," "first woman to win best director"—we are taking away from the achievement itself. We are making it about race or gender, instead of about the individual's talent.
When Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1940, she was the first black person to win an Academy Award. However, her win was often overshadowed by the fact that she was black. The media coverage of her win focused on her race, rather than on her talent. This is just one example of how labels can be used to divide people, rather than to unite them.
Labels can be pretty ridiculous sometimes. Like, the whole thing about the first non-binary person playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup? How can someone who's genderless play in a sport that's supposedly gendered? It's time to cut the crap and focus on the game, people!
Achievements should be celebrated for what they are, not who the person is. Whether someone is black, white, male, female, or non-binary, their accomplishments should be recognized for their merits. When we focus on these arbitrary distinctions, we risk undermining the true essence of accomplishments and diminishing the value of human potential.
The path to true unity is acknowledging our shared humanity and recognizing that each individual's achievements contribute to the collective tapestry of progress. We can foster an inclusive and harmonious society by celebrating talents without emphasizing divisive labels.
How do we do that? Well, for starters, we have to shift our focus away from "firsts" and towards exceptional talent and accomplishments. Let's applaud people for their creativity, dedication, and contributions to their field, regardless of their race, gender, or any other superficial attribute.
I would love to see an award ceremony where people are applauded for their creativity, dedication, and contributions to the field, rather than being labeled by their race, gender, or other characteristics. That would be a celebration that would bring us together as a society, and inspire future generations to aim for greatness regardless of societal expectations.
At least the Nobel Prize does a good job of sticking to this.
The way we talk about award ceremonies and recognition events can have a big impact on how we see ourselves and each other. If we keep focusing on labels, we're just going to keep dividing ourselves and perpetuating stereotypes. It's time we start celebrating our shared humanity and recognize that we're all just actors playing our parts in this grand theater of life.
So let's all just chill out and enjoy the show, okay? Labels be damned!
