re: "Irving believes his mission -- to bring hope, primarily to inner-city minorities -- made his trip unique." - True, but he's still an inspiration to be 23 yrs old and having done it.
That's what we're hearing here. Aside from him being an African-American he is also the youngest to have done such a feat. Also, yes, for his humble begininings being of Jamaican descent.
That's why most of us here are celebrating such a flight. If he had been white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever, we'd do the same.