1. Unlike stereotypes surrounding blacks, Wariner's "break through" doesn't reflect on his worth as a human being. Black stereotypes were part of an overall view that blacks were inferior and limited in terms of their societal worth. When blacks broke into certain sports areas, it was an educational opportunity for whites to say "hey, they're just like us, and they can speak english, too!" The whole white-people-can't-sprint stereotype has not hurt the chances of white people in society to become whatever they wanted to be. The stereotypes surrounding the black athlete were part of a bigoted view that saw blacks as almost superhuman in the physical realm (hence why they should be slaves) and limited in intellectual capacity (why they shouldn't be allowed in schools with whites). It hasn't hurt white athletes who are fast from sprinting if that's their desire. I don't know about where anybody else lives but where I grew up I never heard somebody tell a white kid that they can't compete in a sport because they were white. Now, if we look at the history of the black athlete in sport, there are plenty of examples of moments when a black athlete was a "first" in sport where systematically they could not previously enter.
2. Wariner is not the first white American to win an Olympic gold in the 400. Larabee, 1964. He's the first in a long time, but not the first.
I still don't get it. Let's Run says that this breaks down harmful stereotypes. What harmful stereotype, that white's can't sprint? Has this stereotype somehow led to massive discrimination against white people? Have white people been somehow limited in their upward mobility because of this stereotype? Or is it just that there needs to be another area where white people can say "hey, we're superior here too!" And let's not forget, white people have been the ones to perpetuate this stereotype far more than blacks. There are vastly more whites that are coaches and officials on all levels of track and field then there are black coaches and black officials. White people just need to look in the mirror on that one.
Still, Wariner is the man and if he can stay healthy he'll break MJ's record in about 2 years.