When chess was invented, why did they give first move to white??

Is it not racist?

@lichecks www.quora.com/In-chess-why-does-white-go-first

Well if it was the other way around the question is the same.

chess wanted to try and add balance, because the other great abstract strategy games of go/checkers/draughts all have the dark pieces moving first

This question is asked over and over again with absolutely stupid implications about race. Call the colors red and blue if you are so concerned about race in an abstract game.

NO, IT ISN'T RACIST. It also isn't racist that day is light and night is dark.

Wasn't there a period when either colour could move first?

And what makes you think that the color of an army's uniform is the color of their race?

@rayb +1

if you have to ask if it's racist, then it isn't racist.

also, this isn't original or funny or profound.

so please, op and everyone like him, stop doing this.

If chess pieces were a race then yes, but the reason the chess pieces have different colors is so you don't get confused about what pieces are yours and which aren't.
The starting point all the pieces are equally on black and white squares.
It is said that black gets to choose which opening is played. White doesn't get to choose that.
1. e4. So black can decide on sicilian, french, ruy lopez, alekhine, modern, scandinavian, caro-kann, etc. White doesn't have this privilege. So you see black isn't helpless. Playing the first move isn't such a big advantage as you think it is.