Why I feel ambivalent about advances in equality being framed as "Such-and-such group's achievement."

On the one hand, it absolutely IS an achievement. So much work, and such sacrifice, goes into every inch of ground gained.

But on the other hand, these achievements are only made possible by those in the majority, those in power, being willing to cede a small fraction of that power for the sake of equality. Or, as is often the case, for the sake of public acclaim.

Obergefell (gay marriage, 2015) wasn't decided on the basis of gay Americans waging war (rhetorically or literally) on the Supreme Court. Rather the Court, which is composed of zero gay people (but 6/9 Catholics at the time, which...well, you may recall the Church's position on homosexuality), scratched its way to a 5-4 decision acknowledging that gay people are in fact people.

It is only by the majority getting the fuck over its own bigotry that advancements of minorities are made. You won't get female CEOs, black presidents, or gay Olympians without some heavy-hitters in the majority deciding that they should get the opportunity to try for these positions.

But that's not to say that those majority populations should get credit for this, because you don't get credit for lifting your boot off someone's neck. Not even if it's necessary for you to do that, in order for them to struggle to their feet. You're just doing what you should've been doing all along.

White people ended slavery, but they also started it. Men gave women the vote, but they first denied it. Straight people (in some places) now consider gay folks not to be paedophilic perverts, but first made their mere existence as openly gay a criminal act.

No credit for removing your boot from someone's neck.