In chess why does white always go first?

In medieval times black was thought to be a lucky colour. The white player was allowed to go first since the black player already had the advantage of the lucky colour.

http://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/chess-history-2/

The rule was not adopted until the Fifth American Chess Congress in 1880, when it was written on page 164 of the Code of Chess Laws: "The right of first move must be determined by lot. The player must always play with the white men (sic!)."

Johann Löwenthal, a British master, had proposed the rule in 1857 during the First American Chess Congress in 1857. Löwenthal sent two letters to the secretary of the New York Chess Club, Frederick Perrin about "the advisableness of always giving the first move, in published games, to the player of the white pieces...".

https://theconversation.com/why-does-white-always-go-first-in-chess-141962