"a credit to his race"

I watched an episode tonight that originally aired on 18 Nov 1972 titled "America, The Melting Pot (Thanksgiving)". When Lawrence introduced Arthur Duncan before he did a solo tap dance, Lawrence said Arthur was a credit to his race.

I could hardly believe that he would say something so condescending, though he meant well, in 1972. I guess Lawrence was still out of touch with the changes in racial relations that had already happened in the US by 1972.