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Downloaded from
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YTS.MX
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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(radar beeping)
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NARRATOR: Here are the amazing
adventures of a group of
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space pioneers marooned
on an uncharted planet.
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Adventure as
challenging as tomorrow.
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MAN: Good landing, Flash.
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We're right near
the tunnel entrance.
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MAN: We're headed
for the planet Saturn.
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FLIGHT CONTROLLER: Seven, six,
five, four, three, two, fire.
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DISNEY: In our modern world,
everywhere we look we see
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the influence science
has on our daily lives.
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Many of the things that
seem impossible now
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will become realities tomorrow.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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CHARLIE: When you look at the
history of space exploration
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within the United States,
there were no Black astronauts.
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Astronauts were
white male test pilots
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who were all
5'10" on average.
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They called it
the right stuff.
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{\an8}FLIGHT CONTROLLER:
Three, two, one.
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{\an8}LELAND: In America,
space exploration was
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{\an8}never something for Black folks.
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{\an8}But the people of the African
diaspora have always been
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scientifically and spiritually
connected to the cosmos.
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This connection is something
that's been around for
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a long time, but we've been
robbed of our history.
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In its symbolism, space allows
you to see what's possible.
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{\an8}SUN-RA: They say that
history repeats itself,
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{\an8}but history is only his story.
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{\an8}I'm not a part of history.
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{\an8}I'm more a part of a mystery.
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(theme music plays)
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♪ ♪
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EMCEE: Well, good afternoon.
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It's my pleasure to welcome you
to the Kennedy Space Center,
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and it gives me great
honor and pleasure to
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introduce our administrator,
Charlie Bolden.
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(applause)
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CHARLIE: Thank you
all very much.
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{\an8}Um, you know,
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{\an8}it is here that so many giant
leaps have been made,
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but what's really
important is that it is here
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{\an8}that many of our future dreams
will be made to come true.
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{\an8}My name is Charles Bolden.
I go by Charlie.
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I spent 34 years on active
duty in the Marine Corps,
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flew four times on the shuttle.
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{\an8}I was in the pilot for the
Hubble Space Telescope mission.
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MAN (over radio): Discovery,
go for Hubble release.
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CHARLIE: And I was the NASA
administrator during the
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Obama Administration,
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the only Black to ever be
the NASA administrator.
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Very few people today
even have a clue about
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Black people's contribution
to human space flight,
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because they weren't
written in history books.
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In Africa, the griot is
the master in a village
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that carries the
history of the people.
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And unless you're very
fortunate to have a parent or
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a mentor or somebody else
who teaches you about it,
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{\an8}you might miss it.
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♪ ♪
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ED: If you're really an
observer of Black people's
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accomplishments in America,
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we've only made progress
in certain areas.
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And it seems like in the
larger scheme of things,
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there are areas
that are inviolate.
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And this space thing falls
right into that category.
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I get questions about, you know,
what really happened,
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{\an8}and my answer to that question
is I don't think America or
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{\an8}anybody knows how
complex the situation was.
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NARRATOR: In 1961, Captain
Dwight received a letter from
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President John F. Kennedy
offering him the opportunity
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to become the first
Black astronaut.
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ED: Well, it
wasn't Black then.
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It was Negro astronaut.
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♪ Kennedy. Kennedy. Kennedy ♪
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♪ Kennedy for me ♪ ♪
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ED: When this whole
thing went down,
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Kennedy was trying to
get elected president.
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And he knew that he
needed the Black vote.
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♪ Kennedy ♪
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ED: And so supposedly, a group
of Black community leaders
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set up this meeting
with Senator Kennedy,
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and all these guys had their
agenda about what they wanted.
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The story goes, there were
people like Roy Wilkins and
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A. Philip Randolph, and
Whitney Young went on last.
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{\an8}He was affiliated with the
Urban League and he said,
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"Senator, we can't get
our Black kids into the
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engineering and
science schools.
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But we've got military
academies, and we can
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fill these military
academies up with Black kids.
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I'll find the Black kids."
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Kennedy is, "Huh,
this is interesting.
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What do you want from me?"
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And Whitney's answer was,
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"Make me a Black astronaut,
and give him to me."
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(cheering)
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REPORTER: Here inside the Armory
the once very junior senator
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for Massachusetts, now at the
age of 43, the president-elect
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of the United States
and his wife, Jacqueline.
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ED: Kennedy won
the presidency.
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But as far as this
Black astronaut thing,
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that was the last thing
that was on his mind.
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(phone ringing)
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And Whitney was calling him,
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"What about my astronaut?
What about our deal?"
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General LeMay was
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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The President called
him and asked him,
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"How long would it take you
to make me a Black astronaut?"
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And the response
was five years.
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The President said,
"That's not good enough.
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I want some information
on my desk by Friday."
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And that's how fast
this whole thing evolved.
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Back in those days,
there weren't too many
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Black pilots in the world.
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{\an8}Many of them were
Tuskegee Airmen left over
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{\an8}from World War II.
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{\an8}And so now, it was easy
for them to come up with
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a set of credentials that
eliminated everybody.
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You had to have 1500
hours of jet time.
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You had to have a degree in
engineering or natural science.
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Your last three effectiveness
reports had to be rated
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outstanding, and you
had to be young,
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which eliminated the
entire Tuskegee Airmen.
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From their point of view,
they came up with criteria
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that no Black person in the
universe could ever meet.
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So they were trying
to figure out...
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who the hell is Captain Dwight?
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From the time I was two,
mom would take us to the
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airport every day.
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It just blew my mind,
the whole idea of flying,
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and I went straight into the
military out of college.
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I was 27 years old, and I had
a pretty good career going.
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At that point in time,
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I was the only Black
officer on the base,
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and so I'm living
in this white universe.
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But I was happy doing
what I was doing,
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and I had no reason to
be racially conscious.
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I had no intention of
being an astronaut.
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That was the last
thing on my bucket list.
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But once I was
given the challenge,
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then everything changes.
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And so I polled all of
my superior officers.
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Until a person, they told me,
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"They would make hamburger
out of you, Dwight."
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But then I called my mom, and
she introduces this race factor,
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"You're uplifting
the race if you did this."
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And so I went back
to Colonel McDonald.
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Colonel McDonald said,
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"The hell with your race.
You save yourself,"
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and I said something
absolutely stupid to him.
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I said, "You know, if I do this,
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I'll be on the cover
of Ebony Magazine."
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(laughing)
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And this guy says, "What
the hell is Ebony Magazine?"
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(laughing)
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{\an8}GUY: Interesting enough,
people asked me if I wanted
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{\an8}to be an astronaut
when I was a kid.
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MING THE MERCILESS:
Flash Gordon.
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FLASH GORDON: You didn't think
you'd get away with this.
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Did you, Ming?
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GUY: And I tell them no,
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because astronauts
were science fiction things
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and aliens and all
that sort of stuff.
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And so I never really had
a strong feeling for it.
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Math and science were the
driving force in my life,
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and I was curious of a
lot of different things.
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But the thing
that I loved most,
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I was crazy about airplanes.
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I didn't look at them
from a pilot point of view.
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I looked at them from
a how are they built?
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Is it a nice-looking airplane?
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Will it fly fast?
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So I looked at it from an
engineering point of view.
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And interesting enough,
my father was an engineer,
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and I never really
recognized that that was
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a strange occupation
for a Black man.
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I didn't think
that was unusual.
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And so I got accepted
to Penn State in the
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aeronautical
engineering department.
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I showed up on a campus,
and they're not,
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they're just not there.
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{\an8}And I realized I was the
only Black student in
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{\an8}aerospace engineering.
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CHARLIE: Growing up,
my mom and dad, you know,
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they always talked
about possibility.
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But growing up in
the Jim Crow South,
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{\an8}you just, you knew what
you could and couldn't do,
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{\an8}and you didn't press the system.
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You were taught you don't
have the right to do that.
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You don't have the right
to drink from that fountain
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because that says white, so
don't even think about it.
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And it was the
same thing with NASA.
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I loved the space program,
I was enamored with it,
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but nobody doing that
stuff looked like me.
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Ed was in consideration
for the NASA program,
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which is America's
civil space program,
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00:13:24,345 --> 00:13:27,932
and there is no organization
that is more effective in
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promoting our
greatness than NASA.
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But having a Black man as the
face and voice of America
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in space, that's different.
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That's real different.
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ED: Only two years before this
whole Black astronaut thing
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00:13:44,865 --> 00:13:48,869
were the first
seven astronauts named.
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00:13:50,496 --> 00:13:52,331
{\an8}OFFICIAL: It's my pleasure
to introduce...
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{\an8}these, ladies and gentlemen,
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{\an8}are the nation's
Mercury astronauts.
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00:13:58,045 --> 00:14:02,675
(applause)
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ED: They spent millions of
dollars making the first seven
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astronaut heroes with
the implication that
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they were superheroes.
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{\an8}And there was no way in
God's green earth
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they would allow me to
be equal to these guys.
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00:14:21,652 --> 00:14:27,074
Because if a Black guy could
qualify to be among these guys,
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then the first seven guys
were not heroes anymore.
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That meant
anybody could do it.
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FRED: With Ed, there was a
lot of politics involved.
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And in my career, I learned
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{\an8}never get yourself
associated with a political.
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00:14:44,466 --> 00:14:45,926
{\an8}Never.
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00:14:46,010 --> 00:14:50,306
{\an8}I mean, as long as that
political person is in power,
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then you'll progress.
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But at the same time,
you get a lot of enemies
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when you do it that way
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because they think you're
in a special group.
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The rest of them think
you're in a special group.
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ED: From the time I got down to
Edwards for test pilot school,
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00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:12,453
{\an8}I was set up to fail.
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{\an8}GUY: When you think of test
pilot, do you think edge of
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00:15:15,581 --> 00:15:19,668
{\an8}the envelope and all of
that sort of stuff,
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00:15:20,961 --> 00:15:26,133
{\an8}like Chuck Yeager, you know,
breaking the sound barrier?
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00:15:26,216 --> 00:15:28,093
{\an8}NARRATOR: On October 14th, 1947,
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00:15:28,177 --> 00:15:30,220
Air Force Captain
Charles E. Yeager
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00:15:30,304 --> 00:15:33,641
made the world's
first supersonic flight.
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00:15:33,724 --> 00:15:34,934
(boom)
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And he does it.
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00:15:36,352 --> 00:15:39,563
The first human to
crack the sound barrier.
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00:15:40,773 --> 00:15:43,150
ED: Chuck Yeager was the
head of the test pilot school.
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00:15:43,233 --> 00:15:45,819
He was one of my idols.
242
00:15:45,903 --> 00:15:47,947
CHUCK: We're turning out an
entirely different breed of
243
00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:49,365
pilot here at the school.
244
00:15:49,448 --> 00:15:51,617
These guys will be working on
programs all the way from the
245
00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:53,827
surface of the earth to space.
246
00:15:53,911 --> 00:15:55,996
ED: And he called all
the instructors in and
247
00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,832
the students before I got
there and tells the people,
248
00:15:58,916 --> 00:16:02,252
"Washington is trying to cram
a nigger down our throats,
249
00:16:02,336 --> 00:16:05,339
and we can't let him graduate."
250
00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,094
There was a lot of denial
that this ever happened,
251
00:16:10,177 --> 00:16:13,013
but the story was told to
me by a person that was
252
00:16:13,097 --> 00:16:16,266
in the room so I have
no reason to doubt it.
253
00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:19,269
The other students were
instructed not to speak to me,
254
00:16:19,353 --> 00:16:22,815
not to drink with me,
not to socialize with me.
255
00:16:22,898 --> 00:16:25,859
It's like walking
into a deep freeze.
256
00:16:25,943 --> 00:16:30,197
But this is a lot more complex
than just being racist.
257
00:16:33,117 --> 00:16:35,369
The President should've had
him on board in the beginning
258
00:16:35,452 --> 00:16:37,830
with this Black astronaut idea,
259
00:16:37,913 --> 00:16:40,207
but he was upset
because, you see,
260
00:16:40,290 --> 00:16:42,167
nobody called him.
261
00:16:42,251 --> 00:16:45,129
They called everybody in
this whole aerospace,
262
00:16:45,212 --> 00:16:48,382
test pilot thing, and they
did not call Yeager.
263
00:16:48,465 --> 00:16:51,510
He actually told me this
because he was constantly
264
00:16:51,593 --> 00:16:54,680
calling me into his office
and asking me to quit.
265
00:16:54,763 --> 00:16:57,599
He would pull out a
piece of paper and says,
266
00:16:57,683 --> 00:16:59,435
"There's 150 white boys here
267
00:16:59,518 --> 00:17:01,395
that are more
qualified than you.
268
00:17:01,478 --> 00:17:04,690
You don't belong here."
269
00:17:04,773 --> 00:17:08,569
The isolation and all the lack
of support that I was getting,
270
00:17:08,652 --> 00:17:13,115
this gave me the... the balls
271
00:17:13,198 --> 00:17:17,536
to stand up Yeager,
and we'd go head to head.
272
00:17:20,330 --> 00:17:22,708
I mean, I told him to
kiss my ass, to go to hell,
273
00:17:22,791 --> 00:17:25,294
I don't believe you,
you're a liar.
274
00:17:25,377 --> 00:17:28,464
Any one of those meetings
that I had with Yeager,
275
00:17:28,547 --> 00:17:32,009
I could've been court-martialed.
276
00:17:32,092 --> 00:17:36,055
But I did that, and I
was never intimidated.
277
00:17:36,138 --> 00:17:39,224
Never intimidated.
278
00:17:39,808 --> 00:17:42,227
So I told him,
"I'm not going anywhere."
279
00:17:42,978 --> 00:17:47,024
(engine roaring)
280
00:17:52,029 --> 00:17:54,406
After I graduated from
test pilot school,
281
00:17:54,490 --> 00:17:58,577
Kennedy announced me as
the first Negro astronaut.
282
00:17:58,660 --> 00:18:02,664
That was the headline.
283
00:18:05,417 --> 00:18:09,296
And so all of a sudden,
my schedule was full with
284
00:18:09,379 --> 00:18:13,967
all of these extraneous
things that I did not expect.
285
00:18:15,803 --> 00:18:19,890
Whitney Young was, got a
laser focus on using me
286
00:18:19,973 --> 00:18:22,309
as much as he could use me.
287
00:18:22,392 --> 00:18:25,270
And his thinking was,
this is the last frontier,
288
00:18:25,354 --> 00:18:27,856
this whole space thing, and
we could use this politically
289
00:18:27,940 --> 00:18:30,776
to do all kinds of things.
290
00:18:33,612 --> 00:18:35,405
I would be away from training
291
00:18:35,489 --> 00:18:39,118
from Thursday until
Monday afternoon,
292
00:18:39,827 --> 00:18:42,621
and I'd be making speeches
all over the country about
293
00:18:42,704 --> 00:18:45,958
the whole concept
of this Negro astronaut.
294
00:18:46,291 --> 00:18:47,709
I was making contacts.
295
00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:50,712
I was spreading the word.
296
00:18:51,964 --> 00:18:53,882
When I got back to Edwards,
297
00:18:53,966 --> 00:18:55,968
the press wanted to talk to me.
298
00:18:56,051 --> 00:18:58,679
They won't talk to none of
the rest of those guys,
299
00:18:58,762 --> 00:19:01,890
so I was getting backlash
from the other students.
300
00:19:02,432 --> 00:19:03,851
From their point of view,
they're going,
301
00:19:03,934 --> 00:19:07,312
"What in the world's
going on here, man?"
302
00:19:10,399 --> 00:19:12,442
ANCHOR: A 29-year-old
Negro says he is anxious
303
00:19:12,526 --> 00:19:14,194
to go into space.
304
00:19:14,278 --> 00:19:16,029
He's Captain Edward Dwight
of the Air Force,
305
00:19:16,113 --> 00:19:17,865
selected to be an astronaut,
306
00:19:17,948 --> 00:19:20,993
the first of his race
to be so designated.
307
00:19:21,076 --> 00:19:23,162
ED: When I was first announced,
everybody tried to make
308
00:19:23,245 --> 00:19:26,331
a real big hero out of me,
and all they could think
309
00:19:26,415 --> 00:19:28,250
about was that, you know,
310
00:19:28,333 --> 00:19:29,960
I could be the first
guy on the moon.
311
00:19:30,043 --> 00:19:32,421
But they didn't have
any concept whatsoever
312
00:19:32,504 --> 00:19:35,883
what it took to be a
test pilot or an astronaut.
313
00:19:35,966 --> 00:19:37,926
(engine roaring)
314
00:19:38,010 --> 00:19:39,761
Cheating death and
all that kind of,
315
00:19:39,845 --> 00:19:42,389
that didn't occur
to these people.
316
00:19:42,472 --> 00:19:45,350
I was a body in a way.
317
00:19:49,605 --> 00:19:51,940
When I was chosen
for this thing,
318
00:19:52,024 --> 00:19:54,568
I was actually divorced.
319
00:19:54,651 --> 00:19:57,863
And they said, "Where is she?
Go find her."
320
00:19:57,946 --> 00:20:00,782
So I had to play the game.
321
00:20:02,159 --> 00:20:03,952
You know, I had to
bring the wife and
322
00:20:04,036 --> 00:20:05,662
I had to bring the kids.
323
00:20:05,746 --> 00:20:08,498
I had to bring the
whole thing together.
324
00:20:09,082 --> 00:20:11,585
This was all orchestrated
by the White House,
325
00:20:11,668 --> 00:20:15,797
by the Pentagon,
and it was imaginary.
326
00:20:15,881 --> 00:20:17,591
It was a lie.
327
00:20:17,674 --> 00:20:20,510
CHARLIE: Ed Dwight was being
used for propaganda purposes
328
00:20:20,594 --> 00:20:23,472
because they wanted to show
that they were engaged in
329
00:20:23,555 --> 00:20:26,391
civil rights and
equality for all.
330
00:20:26,475 --> 00:20:28,352
ED: I suppose you could say
that this is definitely
331
00:20:28,435 --> 00:20:31,605
a sign of progress for the
Negro in the country.
332
00:20:32,105 --> 00:20:34,107
GUY: PR is a big thing.
333
00:20:34,191 --> 00:20:37,236
NASA is real sensitive to that,
334
00:20:37,319 --> 00:20:40,322
and you have to
be able to do that
335
00:20:40,405 --> 00:20:43,492
without being eaten up by it.
336
00:20:44,993 --> 00:20:46,662
(crashing)
337
00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:49,790
ED: My job was go educate these
people about space traveling.
338
00:20:49,873 --> 00:20:53,210
That was supposed to be
my role in all this stuff,
339
00:20:53,293 --> 00:20:57,172
but I caught hell from
the NAACP and all the
340
00:20:57,256 --> 00:21:01,343
Black organizations because
I wasn't militant enough.
341
00:21:01,426 --> 00:21:03,595
I was in there talking
about space and they
342
00:21:03,679 --> 00:21:05,305
"Man, what's wrong
with you, man?
343
00:21:05,389 --> 00:21:07,516
You got to talk
about the struggle.
344
00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:10,227
Who wants to hear all
about that space stuff and
345
00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:11,603
all of the space part.
346
00:21:11,687 --> 00:21:12,771
Who wants to hear that?
347
00:21:12,854 --> 00:21:16,275
Man, you got to talk about how
bad they treating us, man."
348
00:21:16,358 --> 00:21:18,193
And if I did that,
I would've been deported,
349
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:21,571
you know, immediately.
350
00:21:23,573 --> 00:21:27,202
I was a special person
with a built-in audience
351
00:21:27,286 --> 00:21:29,621
that somebody else
created for me,
352
00:21:29,705 --> 00:21:33,000
and I got on the cover
of all these magazines
353
00:21:33,083 --> 00:21:37,921
so I felt that I was better
than these guys, really.
354
00:21:38,005 --> 00:21:41,341
I mean, I'm getting 1500 fan
mail letters a day and I was,
355
00:21:41,425 --> 00:21:42,551
I have people tell me I was
356
00:21:42,634 --> 00:21:44,177
the most incredible
person on earth,
357
00:21:44,261 --> 00:21:46,388
and I had to be the
bravest person in the world
358
00:21:46,471 --> 00:21:48,557
to even think about
going in space.
359
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,311
And you hear all that, you
start believing this stuff.
360
00:22:04,114 --> 00:22:07,200
{\an8}ANNOUNCER: Okay, I guess y'all
know why you're here today.
361
00:22:08,118 --> 00:22:10,412
{\an8}ED: When the announcement
came, I mean everybody was
362
00:22:10,495 --> 00:22:12,748
{\an8}there from all over the
country with cameras.
363
00:22:12,831 --> 00:22:15,083
I mean, there was more
cameras than people.
364
00:22:15,167 --> 00:22:16,209
You know what I mean?
365
00:22:16,293 --> 00:22:19,004
(camera shutters)
366
00:22:19,087 --> 00:22:22,507
I just knew that all the work
that Whitney had done and that
367
00:22:22,591 --> 00:22:27,012
Kennedy had done, that I
was going to be on that list.
368
00:22:29,681 --> 00:22:32,809
(applause)
369
00:22:32,893 --> 00:22:34,853
ANNOUNCER: I'd like to
introduce to you the new group
370
00:22:34,936 --> 00:22:37,439
of 14 astronauts that
we've been in the process of
371
00:22:37,522 --> 00:22:41,068
selecting for about
the last four months.
372
00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:44,780
{\an8}REPORTER: Was there a Negro
boy in the last 30 or so that
373
00:22:44,863 --> 00:22:47,491
{\an8}you brought here
for consideration?
374
00:22:47,574 --> 00:22:50,410
{\an8}DONALD: No, there was not.
375
00:22:56,291 --> 00:22:59,294
{\an8}Okay, I guess
we're through, Paul.
376
00:23:02,297 --> 00:23:06,009
ED: He finishes the list and
for that split second of time,
377
00:23:06,093 --> 00:23:10,764
I said to myself,
"Hmm, maybe it didn't work."
378
00:23:15,811 --> 00:23:18,313
FRED: When you began looking
at who had been selected from
379
00:23:18,397 --> 00:23:22,692
the program, it was very clear
380
00:23:22,776 --> 00:23:24,945
that there was no attempt
381
00:23:25,028 --> 00:23:28,865
at that time to integrate.
382
00:23:31,284 --> 00:23:33,203
ED: Right after
the announcement,
383
00:23:33,286 --> 00:23:36,206
I'm calling my parents and
people were calling me and
384
00:23:36,289 --> 00:23:38,792
don't worry, you're still good.
385
00:23:38,875 --> 00:23:42,295
And I was bolstered by that
386
00:23:42,379 --> 00:23:44,464
because I knew for a fact that
387
00:23:44,548 --> 00:23:47,884
they were not going to
walk away from this thing.
388
00:23:57,644 --> 00:24:01,940
About a month later, we were
in Seattle, Washington,
389
00:24:02,023 --> 00:24:05,402
going through what they call
a full mission simulator.
390
00:24:05,485 --> 00:24:10,031
(radio chatter)
391
00:24:10,407 --> 00:24:15,078
And all of a sudden
somebody says,
392
00:24:15,162 --> 00:24:18,665
"They just killed
the president."
393
00:24:18,748 --> 00:24:21,793
And everything came to a
screeching halt and I said,
394
00:24:21,877 --> 00:24:24,004
"Dude, that ain't
funny worth a damn."
395
00:24:24,087 --> 00:24:27,883
and he says, "No, this is real.
The president is dead."
396
00:24:27,966 --> 00:24:30,051
{\an8}CRONKITE: Here is a
bulletin from CBS News
397
00:24:30,135 --> 00:24:32,762
{\an8}from Dallas, Texas.
398
00:24:32,846 --> 00:24:35,056
{\an8}The flash, apparently official,
399
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:40,228
{\an8}President Kennedy died at
1:00 PM Central Standard Time,
400
00:24:40,312 --> 00:24:45,442
2:00 Eastern Standard Time.
Some 38 minutes ago.
401
00:24:46,318 --> 00:24:53,074
♪ ♪
402
00:24:54,451 --> 00:24:56,703
ED: When I found out the
president was killed,
403
00:24:56,786 --> 00:24:59,331
they shot us back to Edwards,
404
00:24:59,414 --> 00:25:01,583
and nobody was saying
anything to anybody
405
00:25:01,666 --> 00:25:05,462
because everybody knew
what everybody was thinking,
406
00:25:05,545 --> 00:25:09,341
"What's going to
happen to Dwight?"
407
00:25:15,597 --> 00:25:19,684
FRED: Within a few years,
that entire support system
408
00:25:19,768 --> 00:25:24,147
that Ed Dwight had disappeared.
409
00:25:24,231 --> 00:25:25,732
REPORTER: Why
aren't you an astronaut?
410
00:25:25,815 --> 00:25:28,652
Are you now in fact completely
out of the astronaut program?
411
00:25:28,735 --> 00:25:30,320
Did you write a
15-page report?
412
00:25:30,403 --> 00:25:32,280
(camera shutters)
413
00:25:32,572 --> 00:25:34,574
CHARLIE: When President
Kennedy was killed,
414
00:25:34,658 --> 00:25:36,826
people who opposed having
Ed Dwight get into the
415
00:25:36,910 --> 00:25:39,788
astronaut program said,
"That's it. Terminate it. Stop."
416
00:25:39,913 --> 00:25:41,665
REPORTER: You feel that
what's happened to you is
417
00:25:41,748 --> 00:25:45,460
a setback for the civil rights
opportunities in this country?
418
00:25:45,544 --> 00:25:48,505
ED: I would rather
not comment on that.
419
00:25:49,506 --> 00:25:52,759
My hope was just getting
into space in any kind of way.
420
00:25:52,842 --> 00:25:55,136
But they were not going
to let that happen,
421
00:25:59,307 --> 00:26:01,560
and they said, number one,
I wasn't tall enough.
422
00:26:01,643 --> 00:26:02,811
I was Catholic.
423
00:26:02,894 --> 00:26:04,437
I wasn't Black enough.
424
00:26:04,521 --> 00:26:08,775
I was not the model
of the negro race.
425
00:26:11,444 --> 00:26:16,366
I felt very, very used and
I made a decision to resign.
426
00:26:23,623 --> 00:26:25,584
Had all of the
things being equal,
427
00:26:25,667 --> 00:26:28,712
I would've made it to the moon.
428
00:26:28,795 --> 00:26:32,674
I had the capability and I was
not given that opportunity.
429
00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:36,219
For a second or
two microseconds,
430
00:26:36,303 --> 00:26:40,181
you wrap that around and then
you throw it in the trashcan.
431
00:26:40,265 --> 00:26:43,977
(laughing)
432
00:26:45,854 --> 00:26:52,527
(engine roaring)
433
00:26:57,741 --> 00:27:02,495
BERNARD: When I think about
Ed Dwight, I sometimes wonder
434
00:27:02,579 --> 00:27:05,707
if things had played
out differently and
435
00:27:05,790 --> 00:27:08,960
he indeed went to space.
436
00:27:09,044 --> 00:27:12,964
{\an8}Let's think about what a
difference that would've made.
437
00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,389
At that moment in
the Black community,
438
00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:24,225
this was a difficult time.
439
00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:26,936
ANNOUNCER (over film): As for
America, Black people have
440
00:27:27,020 --> 00:27:29,856
been here for more
than 400 years.
441
00:27:29,939 --> 00:27:32,233
We have contributed dearly
in all of the gains
442
00:27:32,317 --> 00:27:34,277
this land has made.
443
00:27:34,361 --> 00:27:36,196
And we have suffered
disproportionately in
444
00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:38,990
all of its failures.
445
00:27:39,282 --> 00:27:45,080
BERNARD: Space really allows
us to realize the hope that's
446
00:27:45,163 --> 00:27:48,291
within all of us
as human beings,
447
00:27:48,375 --> 00:27:51,670
and so to see a
Black man in space
448
00:27:51,753 --> 00:27:54,881
during that period of time,
449
00:27:54,964 --> 00:27:57,884
it would've changed things.
450
00:28:02,389 --> 00:28:03,598
{\an8}REPORTER (over TV):
If all goes well,
451
00:28:03,682 --> 00:28:07,018
{\an8}some 112 hours and 50
minutes after liftoff,
452
00:28:07,102 --> 00:28:09,896
{\an8}Neil Armstrong will step
on the lunar surface.
453
00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:14,401
{\an8}It shows what the richest
nation in history can do
454
00:28:14,484 --> 00:28:17,779
{\an8}when it puts its mind to it.
455
00:28:20,657 --> 00:28:22,575
CHARLIE: I was a
student naval aviator.
456
00:28:22,659 --> 00:28:25,328
As a matter of fact, I was, I
was in Meridian, Mississippi.
457
00:28:25,412 --> 00:28:28,623
My wife and I had rushed back
from a, from a raucous weekend
458
00:28:28,707 --> 00:28:31,209
in New Orleans to sit before
the black and white television
459
00:28:31,292 --> 00:28:33,002
and in the bachelor
officers quarters
460
00:28:33,086 --> 00:28:34,838
{\an8}at the Naval Air
Station Meridian,
461
00:28:34,921 --> 00:28:38,299
{\an8}so we could see human
beings land on the moon.
462
00:28:43,763 --> 00:28:46,015
{\an8}Leading up to that,
there was a protest to the
463
00:28:46,099 --> 00:28:49,894
{\an8}NASA administrator that he
should stop the launch.
464
00:28:50,770 --> 00:29:00,447
♪ No more mean white folk ♪
465
00:29:01,698 --> 00:29:05,744
♪ Over me, over me ♪
466
00:29:06,786 --> 00:29:10,206
RALPH (over film): Ladies and
gentlemen of the press,
467
00:29:10,290 --> 00:29:14,919
on the eve of one of
man's noblest ventures.
468
00:29:15,795 --> 00:29:22,218
{\an8}I am profoundly moved by our
nation's scientific achievements
469
00:29:22,302 --> 00:29:27,307
{\an8}in space and by the
heroism of the three men
470
00:29:27,390 --> 00:29:32,020
who are
embarking for the moon.
471
00:29:33,146 --> 00:29:38,485
I have not come to Cape Kennedy
merely to experience
472
00:29:38,568 --> 00:29:42,530
the thrill of this
historic launching.
473
00:29:44,115 --> 00:29:49,662
I'm here to demonstrate in a
symbolic way the tragic and
474
00:29:49,746 --> 00:29:53,708
inexcusable gulf between
475
00:29:53,792 --> 00:29:57,045
America's
technological abilities
476
00:29:57,128 --> 00:30:00,340
and our social injustice.
477
00:30:02,592 --> 00:30:04,761
CHARLIE: They said NASA should
take some of the money that
478
00:30:04,844 --> 00:30:06,971
was going into the space
program, if not all the money
479
00:30:07,055 --> 00:30:11,351
and put it into, into
poor people in social needs.
480
00:30:14,020 --> 00:30:16,606
{\an8}THOMAS: Ladies and gentlemen,
I'm here because you invited
481
00:30:16,689 --> 00:30:19,192
{\an8}me to be here and
because I want to be here.
482
00:30:19,609 --> 00:30:23,822
If it were possible for us
tomorrow morning to not push
483
00:30:23,905 --> 00:30:26,866
the button and to solve the
problems to which you are
484
00:30:26,950 --> 00:30:30,078
concerned, believe me, we
would not push the button.
485
00:30:30,161 --> 00:30:32,705
I would make a counter request,
and that is when you
486
00:30:32,789 --> 00:30:35,708
have your prayer vigil tonight
that you'll pray for the
487
00:30:35,792 --> 00:30:37,836
safety of our astronauts.
488
00:30:37,919 --> 00:30:40,964
This would mean a great deal to
all of us in the space program.
489
00:30:41,506 --> 00:30:42,882
CHARLIE: The NASA
administrator told them,
490
00:30:42,966 --> 00:30:45,552
we believe that down the
road this is going to benefit
491
00:30:45,635 --> 00:30:47,470
what you're trying to do.
492
00:30:47,554 --> 00:30:50,098
That was his argument.
493
00:30:50,181 --> 00:30:52,976
They didn't buy it,
but nonetheless,
494
00:30:53,059 --> 00:30:55,562
they launched and
the rest is history.
495
00:30:55,645 --> 00:31:00,900
SPEAKER: Five, four,
three, two, one, zero.
496
00:31:00,984 --> 00:31:02,360
All engines running.
497
00:31:02,443 --> 00:31:08,992
(engine roaring)
498
00:31:13,329 --> 00:31:18,626
RALPH: We pray for these
brave, courageous heroes,
499
00:31:19,294 --> 00:31:22,338
make their way to the
moon home tomorrow.
500
00:31:22,422 --> 00:31:27,051
May they never forget their
suffering brothers and sisters
501
00:31:27,135 --> 00:31:29,012
down here on the earth.
502
00:31:29,095 --> 00:31:32,223
May they think about us
tomorrow and pray for us
503
00:31:32,307 --> 00:31:35,685
as we will be praying for them.
504
00:31:44,444 --> 00:31:50,617
♪ ♪
505
00:31:50,825 --> 00:31:54,871
ARMSTRONG (over radio): It's
one small step for man,
506
00:31:55,830 --> 00:31:59,042
one giant leap for mankind.
507
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:07,050
BERNARD: For this little
Black kid to not see any
508
00:32:07,133 --> 00:32:11,429
you know, Black people being
part of the space program
509
00:32:11,512 --> 00:32:13,681
just egged me on.
510
00:32:13,765 --> 00:32:16,851
I said, "Well, they
may not want us there.
511
00:32:16,935 --> 00:32:20,939
I may not see someone who
looks like me, but we're going
512
00:32:21,022 --> 00:32:26,027
to prove them wrong and
I'm not the only one."
513
00:32:26,569 --> 00:32:29,697
{\an8}H. RAP: We tend to equate
progress with concessions.
514
00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:32,283
{\an8}We can no longer
make that mistake.
515
00:32:32,367 --> 00:32:34,911
{\an8}You see, when they gave us
that nigger astronaut,
516
00:32:34,994 --> 00:32:36,412
you said, "We were
making progress."
517
00:32:36,496 --> 00:32:38,539
But I told you, "They were
going to lose him in space."
518
00:32:38,623 --> 00:32:40,166
He didn't get that far.
519
00:32:40,249 --> 00:32:42,835
(applause)
520
00:32:42,919 --> 00:32:45,588
SPEAKER: Black power
means Black dignity.
521
00:32:45,672 --> 00:32:48,508
We don't want any more
than you have and
522
00:32:48,591 --> 00:32:51,386
we're not going to accept
any less than you have.
523
00:32:51,469 --> 00:32:53,930
That's Black power.
524
00:32:57,976 --> 00:33:00,645
CHARLIE: After the early days
of the civil rights movement,
525
00:33:00,728 --> 00:33:03,564
you had Stokely Carmichael
and organizations like the
526
00:33:03,648 --> 00:33:07,235
Black Panthers that were
incredible in their ability
527
00:33:07,318 --> 00:33:10,196
to build pride in the
Black community.
528
00:33:10,279 --> 00:33:11,823
STOKELY: We don't need
anybody to tell us to
529
00:33:11,906 --> 00:33:13,408
stand up anymore.
530
00:33:13,491 --> 00:33:15,618
Not only are we going to stand
up, we going to right the
531
00:33:15,743 --> 00:33:18,788
{\an8}wrongs of our people
in this generation.
532
00:33:19,706 --> 00:33:22,542
♪ When you wish upon a star ♪
533
00:33:23,084 --> 00:33:25,044
CHARLIE: And then you had
other people who had their
534
00:33:25,128 --> 00:33:27,505
eyes somewhere
out on the future.
535
00:33:27,588 --> 00:33:30,091
{\an8}SPEAKER: Growing up as a
poor painfully shy child,
536
00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:33,302
{\an8}author Octavia Butler found a
refuge in the limitless world
537
00:33:33,386 --> 00:33:35,221
of science fiction.
538
00:33:35,304 --> 00:33:37,807
♪ Life ain't always
what it seems, oh yeah ♪
539
00:33:37,890 --> 00:33:39,809
OCTAVIA: You got to
make your own worlds.
540
00:33:39,892 --> 00:33:42,061
You got to write yourself in.
541
00:33:42,145 --> 00:33:44,897
Whether you were a part of
the greater society or not,
542
00:33:44,981 --> 00:33:47,358
you got to write yourself in.
543
00:33:47,442 --> 00:33:49,652
♪ You're a shining star ♪
544
00:33:49,736 --> 00:33:52,155
♪ No matter who you are ♪ ♪
545
00:33:52,238 --> 00:33:55,450
{\an8}LELAND: As a kid, space was
never something for the
546
00:33:55,533 --> 00:34:00,496
{\an8}Black diaspora, but Afrofuturism
was this cultural aesthetic
547
00:34:00,580 --> 00:34:02,749
that gave Black people
the opportunity to
548
00:34:02,832 --> 00:34:05,960
see ourselves in space.
549
00:34:06,044 --> 00:34:08,087
GEORGE: Nobody's seen a
Black in outer space.
550
00:34:08,171 --> 00:34:10,465
{\an8}That was not even a
concept of nobody's mind,
551
00:34:10,548 --> 00:34:14,510
{\an8}especially sitting on a
spaceship like it's a Cadillac.
552
00:34:15,386 --> 00:34:17,555
♪ Shining star for you to see ♪
553
00:34:17,638 --> 00:34:19,849
♪ What your life can truly be ♪
554
00:34:19,932 --> 00:34:22,393
♪ Shining star for you to see ♪
555
00:34:22,477 --> 00:34:25,730
LELAND: And so Afrofuturism
provides a vision of the
556
00:34:25,813 --> 00:34:29,108
future with our
flavor added to the mix.
557
00:34:29,192 --> 00:34:31,235
♪ Shining star for you to see ♪
558
00:34:31,319 --> 00:34:34,197
♪ What your life
can truly be ♪ ♪
559
00:34:39,535 --> 00:34:42,663
{\an8}SUN-RA: I am Sun-Ra,
ambassador from the
560
00:34:42,747 --> 00:34:47,752
{\an8}intergalactic regions of
the council of outer space.
561
00:34:48,086 --> 00:34:49,337
WOMAN: How do we
know you for real?
562
00:34:49,462 --> 00:34:51,506
WOMAN: Shoot, I know I'd
probably take off running if I
563
00:34:51,631 --> 00:34:53,382
see somebody walking down
the street talking about
564
00:34:53,508 --> 00:34:54,550
going to outer space.
565
00:34:54,634 --> 00:34:56,219
SUN-RA: How do
you know I'm real?
566
00:34:56,302 --> 00:34:57,553
ALL: Yes.
567
00:34:57,637 --> 00:34:59,972
SUN-RA: I'm not real.
I'm just like you.
568
00:35:00,056 --> 00:35:02,558
You don't exist
in this society.
569
00:35:02,642 --> 00:35:06,646
If you did, your people wouldn't
be seeking equal rights,
570
00:35:06,729 --> 00:35:10,691
so we are both myths because
that's what Black people are.
571
00:35:10,775 --> 00:35:12,777
Myths.
572
00:35:12,860 --> 00:35:15,404
They take frequent
trips to the moon.
573
00:35:15,488 --> 00:35:19,033
I noticed none of
you have been invited.
574
00:35:19,117 --> 00:35:21,285
How do you think
you're going to exist?
575
00:35:21,369 --> 00:35:25,081
The year 2000 is
right around the corner.
576
00:35:27,917 --> 00:35:29,919
MAN (over TV): When Neil
Armstrong stepped onto the moon,
577
00:35:30,002 --> 00:35:33,214
the restless American spirit
began asking the question,
578
00:35:33,297 --> 00:35:35,967
what next?
579
00:35:38,177 --> 00:35:40,638
Well, this morning we
start to get the answer.
580
00:35:44,767 --> 00:35:51,274
♪ ♪
581
00:35:51,691 --> 00:35:53,734
REPORTER (over TV): This is
Orbiter 101 as it rolled out of
582
00:35:53,818 --> 00:35:56,779
the hangar in
Palmdale, California.
583
00:35:59,490 --> 00:36:01,242
CHARLIE: A lot of people talk
about the technological
584
00:36:01,325 --> 00:36:03,786
marvel of the space shuttle.
585
00:36:03,870 --> 00:36:05,663
REPORTER (over TV): A
transportation system capable of
586
00:36:05,746 --> 00:36:09,959
delivering 65,000 pounds of
payload into orbit.
587
00:36:10,042 --> 00:36:12,378
CHARLIE: And I said, true,
but that's not its
588
00:36:12,461 --> 00:36:16,215
most important contribution
to humanity.
589
00:36:16,299 --> 00:36:19,260
It was a big vehicle like the
size of a 737 airplane that
590
00:36:19,343 --> 00:36:23,264
could carry a crew of seven,
but it only needed two pilots,
591
00:36:23,347 --> 00:36:28,269
so people who were scientists
and engineers could fly along
592
00:36:28,352 --> 00:36:31,314
as crew members while
the two pilots up front
593
00:36:31,397 --> 00:36:33,733
took care of flying the vehicle.
594
00:36:35,151 --> 00:36:38,571
All of a sudden we were
able to hire astronauts
595
00:36:38,654 --> 00:36:42,742
who didn't look like the
classic NASA astronaut,
596
00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:47,955
so it revolutionized the
makeup of the space program.
597
00:36:53,211 --> 00:36:57,048
FRED: I had been a test pilot
for NASA for about six years,
598
00:36:58,049 --> 00:37:01,093
but every day I came in
and did the same thing.
599
00:37:02,595 --> 00:37:06,349
I felt like I was in a rut,
600
00:37:09,393 --> 00:37:13,981
{\an8}and then I saw something
that to this day, uh,
601
00:37:14,065 --> 00:37:17,276
{\an8}it just still,
still overwhelms me.
602
00:37:18,361 --> 00:37:21,072
NICHELLE: Hi,
I'm Nichelle Nichols,
603
00:37:21,155 --> 00:37:22,990
but I still feel
a little bit like
604
00:37:23,074 --> 00:37:25,826
Lieutenant Uhura on the
Starship Enterprise.
605
00:37:25,910 --> 00:37:27,328
(clapper board)
606
00:37:28,162 --> 00:37:31,332
FRED: There was a young
lady that we all knew and
607
00:37:31,415 --> 00:37:34,293
her name was Lieutenant Uhura.
608
00:37:34,460 --> 00:37:36,128
NICHELLE:
Frequency open, Mr. Spock.
609
00:37:36,212 --> 00:37:37,505
Come in, star base.
610
00:37:37,588 --> 00:37:39,298
Come in Captain Kirk.
611
00:37:39,382 --> 00:37:42,635
FRED: She was Nichelle Nichols
and she was on Star Trek.
612
00:37:44,845 --> 00:37:48,057
NICHELLE: Star Trek projected
a future in space that
613
00:37:48,140 --> 00:37:53,312
included all of us, so I became
very involved with NASA,
614
00:37:53,771 --> 00:37:56,649
with the idea that
especially Black people
615
00:37:56,732 --> 00:38:00,903
had to have an awareness
of those possibilities.
616
00:38:01,654 --> 00:38:04,073
It's still an all
white male astronaut core.
617
00:38:04,156 --> 00:38:08,202
People are somewhat well,
the credibility is rather zero
618
00:38:08,286 --> 00:38:12,373
with NASA in the minority
and female community.
619
00:38:12,665 --> 00:38:15,376
FRED: I remember her saying,
"I don't see me here."
620
00:38:15,459 --> 00:38:20,131
And she went out on a campaign
and crisscrossed the country.
621
00:38:22,216 --> 00:38:25,511
NICHELLE: Suddenly there was
this connection going from
622
00:38:25,594 --> 00:38:31,434
fantasy to fact, and I
was that spokesperson.
623
00:38:32,101 --> 00:38:34,103
FRED: I saw her on TV.
624
00:38:34,186 --> 00:38:37,189
NICHELLE: I'm speaking to
the whole family of humankind,
625
00:38:37,273 --> 00:38:39,567
minorities and women alike.
626
00:38:39,650 --> 00:38:41,235
FRED: I know she
was talking to me.
627
00:38:41,319 --> 00:38:42,862
Others claim she
was talking to them.
628
00:38:42,945 --> 00:38:45,573
No, she was talking to me.
629
00:38:45,656 --> 00:38:47,325
NICHELLE: If you qualify
and would like to be
630
00:38:47,408 --> 00:38:50,870
an astronaut, now is the time.
631
00:38:50,953 --> 00:38:52,872
This is your NASA.
632
00:38:52,955 --> 00:38:55,624
A space agency embarked on
a mission to improve the
633
00:38:55,708 --> 00:39:00,254
quality of life on planet
earth right now.
634
00:39:06,302 --> 00:39:09,388
FRED: The last NASA astronaut
selection was in '69,
635
00:39:09,472 --> 00:39:12,600
so there was a gap.
636
00:39:13,351 --> 00:39:16,437
One program was shutting down,
a new one was beginning.
637
00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:17,772
PRODUCER: Camera. Speed.
638
00:39:17,855 --> 00:39:19,899
Fred Gregory, scene 28.
639
00:39:19,982 --> 00:39:21,942
Guion Bluford. Scene 26.
640
00:39:22,026 --> 00:39:24,737
Ron McNair, scene 27.
Take one.
641
00:39:24,820 --> 00:39:25,863
(clapper board)
642
00:39:30,034 --> 00:39:32,036
MAN: The National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
643
00:39:32,119 --> 00:39:35,664
today chose the 35 persons
who will ride the space shuttle
644
00:39:35,748 --> 00:39:39,085
into orbit and back
in the 1980s.
645
00:39:43,631 --> 00:39:48,469
Among them are three Blacks,
one oriental, and six women.
646
00:39:49,261 --> 00:39:52,765
SPEAKER: It's my pleasure
to introduce Guy Bluford.
647
00:39:53,349 --> 00:39:57,061
♪ All eyes on me
alright alright alright ♪
648
00:39:57,895 --> 00:40:01,732
GUY: When I applied, I wasn't
sure that I'd ever make it.
649
00:40:03,025 --> 00:40:05,194
You'd read in the newspaper,
these people have been
650
00:40:05,277 --> 00:40:08,656
selected for the astronaut
program and they all
651
00:40:08,739 --> 00:40:11,283
{\an8}leap tall buildings
with a single bound.
652
00:40:12,159 --> 00:40:15,830
I went down to Houston and
I saw the competition and
653
00:40:15,913 --> 00:40:19,792
I'm sort of saying, "Hey, I want
to see who these people are
654
00:40:19,875 --> 00:40:22,670
that are better than I am."
655
00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,259
ANNOUNCER: I'd like to welcome
Major Frederick Gregory
656
00:40:28,342 --> 00:40:31,387
from the United
States Air Force.
657
00:40:31,470 --> 00:40:33,514
♪ Help him find the funk ♪
658
00:40:33,597 --> 00:40:36,350
FRED: At this time, my goals
in life were not something
659
00:40:36,434 --> 00:40:39,061
specific like to be a pilot
or be a doctor or something.
660
00:40:39,145 --> 00:40:41,772
{\an8}I wanted to have fun
and make a contribution.
661
00:40:42,773 --> 00:40:45,943
I was one of the first
Blacks in integrated schools
662
00:40:46,026 --> 00:40:50,197
in Washington DC, the only one
in my class at the academy,
663
00:40:50,281 --> 00:40:52,575
so if there were a barrier,
664
00:40:52,658 --> 00:40:54,410
it would have to be
a big one to stop me.
665
00:40:54,493 --> 00:40:57,997
(laughing)
666
00:40:58,080 --> 00:40:59,707
♪ Hey, yeah ♪
667
00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:01,250
♪ Shine the spotlight on him! ♪
668
00:41:01,333 --> 00:41:02,626
♪ Help him find the funk ♪
669
00:41:02,710 --> 00:41:06,213
ANNOUNCER: Chosen as a mission
specialist, Ronald McNair.
670
00:41:06,922 --> 00:41:09,508
RON: Being a scientist, I see
it as something that's part of
671
00:41:09,592 --> 00:41:12,761
man's nature to explore
as far as he can and
672
00:41:12,845 --> 00:41:14,847
as deep as he
can into the unknown.
673
00:41:14,930 --> 00:41:17,641
{\an8}Becoming an astronaut is
something that I've wanted to
674
00:41:17,725 --> 00:41:20,895
{\an8}do for a long time, but I
didn't see how it was possible
675
00:41:20,978 --> 00:41:23,731
until a mission specialist
position was created.
676
00:41:24,356 --> 00:41:26,484
At that time, there was
nothing standing in my way
677
00:41:26,567 --> 00:41:28,736
except to pursue it.
678
00:41:28,819 --> 00:41:30,779
ANNOUNCER: To say that we're
pleased with the selection
679
00:41:30,863 --> 00:41:32,490
is an understatement.
680
00:41:32,573 --> 00:41:34,658
They are undoubtedly the best
looking group we've ever had
681
00:41:34,742 --> 00:41:39,038
as astronauts, and
that's the 35 new astronauts.
682
00:41:39,121 --> 00:41:40,414
(applause)
683
00:41:40,498 --> 00:41:42,249
♪ Help him find the funk ♪
684
00:41:42,333 --> 00:41:44,752
♪ Ha da da dee da
hada hada da da ♪
685
00:41:44,835 --> 00:41:47,213
♪ Help him find the funk ♪
686
00:41:47,296 --> 00:41:51,550
♪ Most of all he need the funk ♪
687
00:41:52,259 --> 00:41:56,722
{\an8}♪ Everybody's got a
little light under the sun ♪
688
00:42:07,358 --> 00:42:12,780
♪ ♪
689
00:42:12,863 --> 00:42:15,032
{\an8}ED: After I left the military,
690
00:42:15,115 --> 00:42:19,119
{\an8}I was very quiet and
I didn't say anything.
691
00:42:20,079 --> 00:42:23,123
I was just numb.
692
00:42:24,708 --> 00:42:28,128
And this was an interesting
time for me because
693
00:42:28,212 --> 00:42:29,672
I didn't know what
to do with myself
694
00:42:29,755 --> 00:42:32,758
after 13 years in the Air Force,
695
00:42:33,676 --> 00:42:36,220
but I did have a
background in art
696
00:42:36,303 --> 00:42:38,556
since I was a little bitty kid,
697
00:42:38,639 --> 00:42:42,309
and so I wanted to
do something creative.
698
00:42:46,814 --> 00:42:50,401
I had a construction company
at the time, and so I started
699
00:42:50,484 --> 00:42:54,029
picking up all the junk from
my construction sites and
700
00:42:54,113 --> 00:42:56,699
next thing you know, I got
the house all decorated
701
00:42:56,782 --> 00:42:59,577
with my sculptures.
702
00:43:00,494 --> 00:43:02,830
{\an8}Lieutenant Governor George Brown
703
00:43:02,913 --> 00:43:06,250
{\an8}purchased one of
my little pieces of art.
704
00:43:06,834 --> 00:43:08,794
{\an8}He was elected our first Black
lieutenant governor in the
705
00:43:08,877 --> 00:43:10,879
state of Colorado and he said,
706
00:43:10,963 --> 00:43:13,340
"I've been watching
you with your art, and
707
00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:17,011
they want a sculpture of me
to adorn the capitol building."
708
00:43:19,179 --> 00:43:23,058
That started my art career
that I didn't know I was going
709
00:43:23,142 --> 00:43:26,729
to be starting, to be
totally candid with you.
710
00:43:30,232 --> 00:43:33,235
After I completed the
sculpture of him,
711
00:43:33,319 --> 00:43:36,614
he awarded me a big project
for the state of Colorado,
712
00:43:36,697 --> 00:43:41,327
a series that had to do with
the Black migration west,
713
00:43:42,328 --> 00:43:44,872
and I asked him,
"What did they do?"
714
00:43:44,955 --> 00:43:46,790
He got rather irate.
715
00:43:46,874 --> 00:43:48,334
"What are you talking about?
716
00:43:48,417 --> 00:43:50,753
Have you ever heard
of Harriet Tubman?"
717
00:43:50,836 --> 00:43:53,047
And I was 42 years old and
718
00:43:53,130 --> 00:43:56,759
I had never heard
of Harriet Tubman.
719
00:43:59,595 --> 00:44:03,724
I grew up with basically
a white education and
720
00:44:03,807 --> 00:44:08,646
I didn't realize that I had
been told every day of my life,
721
00:44:08,729 --> 00:44:12,149
anything of reality that
we experienced today
722
00:44:12,232 --> 00:44:15,027
was done by white people.
723
00:44:18,280 --> 00:44:21,158
And it didn't come into
my reality what George was
724
00:44:21,241 --> 00:44:25,954
talking about until I read
all, all this Black history
725
00:44:26,038 --> 00:44:29,291
that I had
didn't know existed.
726
00:44:32,336 --> 00:44:37,007
That obviously had to change
my whole internal agenda
727
00:44:37,091 --> 00:44:40,094
and I got very angry.
728
00:44:42,137 --> 00:44:45,683
In the beginning, I never
thought about Black history,
729
00:44:45,766 --> 00:44:47,559
but as this thing went along,
730
00:44:47,643 --> 00:44:50,020
I began to realize
the power of, you know,
731
00:44:50,104 --> 00:44:53,190
this storytelling, uh, idea,
732
00:44:53,273 --> 00:44:54,983
and so my motivation
733
00:44:55,067 --> 00:44:59,488
was 100,000%
with educating people.
734
00:45:06,995 --> 00:45:08,997
RON: Times have changed to
the point where Black men
735
00:45:09,081 --> 00:45:12,668
{\an8}can enter areas that were
heretofore some sort of,
736
00:45:12,751 --> 00:45:15,629
{\an8}you might say, prohibited.
737
00:45:15,713 --> 00:45:17,881
To some youth, particularly
in our youth who felt that
738
00:45:17,965 --> 00:45:21,593
such goals were not
reachable or unattainable.
739
00:45:21,677 --> 00:45:23,971
INTERVIEWER: Do you feel that
three is an adequate number
740
00:45:24,054 --> 00:45:25,848
at this point in time?
741
00:45:25,931 --> 00:45:28,225
RON: Well, certainly I
don't feel three is adequate.
742
00:45:28,308 --> 00:45:31,145
I think as many as you can
get in, but three is a start.
743
00:45:31,228 --> 00:45:32,980
Let's do it.
744
00:45:33,063 --> 00:45:37,651
♪ ♪
745
00:45:37,901 --> 00:45:39,236
CHARLIE: Boy,
Guy, Ron, and Fred.
746
00:45:39,319 --> 00:45:40,362
How are they similar?
747
00:45:40,446 --> 00:45:41,780
They're all three Black.
748
00:45:41,864 --> 00:45:43,532
They're all three male.
749
00:45:43,615 --> 00:45:45,909
♪ I wanna come back ♪
750
00:45:45,993 --> 00:45:48,662
{\an8}CHARLIE: That is
about the end of it.
751
00:45:48,746 --> 00:45:50,956
{\an8}♪ 'Cause I like it like that ♪
752
00:45:52,541 --> 00:45:54,752
CHARLIE: Fred came from the
helicopter community and then
753
00:45:54,835 --> 00:45:57,838
worked his way into fighters
while he was serving at
754
00:45:57,921 --> 00:46:00,549
Langley as a test pilot.
755
00:46:00,632 --> 00:46:04,595
And so Fred is the
classic NASA astronaut.
756
00:46:05,095 --> 00:46:07,264
{\an8}♪ Your sweet phalanges ♪
757
00:46:07,347 --> 00:46:09,016
CHARLIE: Guy is not the
typical fighter pilot.
758
00:46:09,099 --> 00:46:10,934
You know, we're accustomed
to fighter pilots who are
759
00:46:11,018 --> 00:46:13,020
braggadocious and, and
boastful and everything.
760
00:46:13,103 --> 00:46:14,480
That's not Guy.
761
00:46:14,563 --> 00:46:16,023
Guy is an engineer
and an engineer first
762
00:46:16,106 --> 00:46:17,483
and he'll tell you.
763
00:46:17,566 --> 00:46:19,151
And so he was selected
as a mission specialist,
764
00:46:19,359 --> 00:46:20,694
not as a, not as a pilot.
765
00:46:20,778 --> 00:46:24,990
♪ What I say ♪
766
00:46:25,240 --> 00:46:27,284
CHARLIE: And then Ron's
the brilliant engineer
767
00:46:27,367 --> 00:46:29,328
with his doctorate
in laser physics.
768
00:46:29,411 --> 00:46:32,414
He's a renaissance man.
769
00:46:35,959 --> 00:46:39,546
GUY: I always admired the
fact that he went to MIT.
770
00:46:39,630 --> 00:46:42,716
{\an8}I, I would've been
blown out at MIT, you know.
771
00:46:43,008 --> 00:46:45,594
{\an8}Ah, ugh, whoo!
772
00:46:46,011 --> 00:46:48,972
♪ Let me stop procrastinating ♪
773
00:46:49,056 --> 00:46:51,934
CHARLIE: Fifth degree
black belt in karate,
774
00:46:52,017 --> 00:46:53,769
could have been
a very successful
775
00:46:53,852 --> 00:46:55,938
professional
saxophone player.
776
00:46:56,021 --> 00:46:58,690
That was Ron.
777
00:47:02,486 --> 00:47:04,863
GUY: I was very thankful
of the fact that
778
00:47:04,947 --> 00:47:08,242
when we came in in '78,
there were three of us,
779
00:47:08,325 --> 00:47:13,038
but Fred and Ron
as well as myself,
780
00:47:13,121 --> 00:47:15,123
all recognized that
one of us would be
781
00:47:15,207 --> 00:47:18,335
the first Black astronaut.
782
00:47:19,962 --> 00:47:22,172
REPORTER: The 35 candidates
begin two years of unisex,
783
00:47:22,256 --> 00:47:24,550
interracial training at
the Johnson Space Center,
784
00:47:24,633 --> 00:47:25,968
July 1st.
785
00:47:26,051 --> 00:47:28,262
Those who pass will become
astronauts, ready for advanced
786
00:47:28,345 --> 00:47:30,889
instruction as members of
the seven person crews
787
00:47:30,973 --> 00:47:34,393
who will fly the Space Shuttle
in the 1980s.
788
00:47:37,229 --> 00:47:41,358
FRED: There were 15 pilots and
20 mission specialists of
789
00:47:41,441 --> 00:47:44,278
very brilliant scientists
and engineers and
790
00:47:44,361 --> 00:47:47,656
that's when we all started.
791
00:47:49,825 --> 00:47:53,203
GUY: We had, uh, briefings
on how the shuttle flew.
792
00:47:53,287 --> 00:47:56,290
These were classroom
instructions and
793
00:47:56,373 --> 00:48:00,085
I assumed Fred would be the
first guy to fly in space,
794
00:48:00,168 --> 00:48:03,130
'cause he's a test pilot.
795
00:48:05,299 --> 00:48:09,553
Test pilots were the king and,
you know, mission specialists
796
00:48:09,636 --> 00:48:11,972
were just those
lowly guys who ride
797
00:48:12,055 --> 00:48:14,683
in the back of this vehicle.
798
00:48:14,766 --> 00:48:16,685
FRED: Certainly,
um, people say,
799
00:48:16,768 --> 00:48:20,647
"Well, were you competing to
be the first Black astronaut?"
800
00:48:21,523 --> 00:48:23,901
I don't remember competing,
801
00:48:23,984 --> 00:48:27,946
but I'm told that
there was competition.
802
00:48:36,455 --> 00:48:39,124
GUY: Everybody jockeyed
around to figure out,
803
00:48:39,207 --> 00:48:42,544
how can I fly before such
and such and such and such.
804
00:48:42,628 --> 00:48:47,758
It was sort of a, I'm better
than you if I fly before you.
805
00:48:48,467 --> 00:48:50,594
And you were dealing
with people who knew
806
00:48:50,677 --> 00:48:53,472
how to play the game.
807
00:48:53,555 --> 00:48:54,973
(splash)
808
00:48:58,685 --> 00:49:02,064
Each of the astronauts knew
who the decision maker was.
809
00:49:02,147 --> 00:49:05,108
{\an8}So everybody ran around
kissing the rump of this guy
810
00:49:05,192 --> 00:49:07,152
{\an8}named George Abbey,
811
00:49:07,235 --> 00:49:08,695
{\an8}and I did just the opposite.
812
00:49:08,779 --> 00:49:10,739
I avoided the guy.
813
00:49:10,822 --> 00:49:15,410
I figured the less he knew
about me, the better, you know.
814
00:49:18,246 --> 00:49:21,625
I didn't really want to be
the first Black astronaut.
815
00:49:21,708 --> 00:49:24,670
And then the other thing is,
816
00:49:24,753 --> 00:49:27,589
Blufords are all introverts.
817
00:49:33,887 --> 00:49:38,433
I am not a um, party-goer.
818
00:49:39,851 --> 00:49:43,855
I treasure what
few friends I have.
819
00:49:44,189 --> 00:49:46,191
I never joined the frat.
820
00:49:46,274 --> 00:49:49,361
I'm not a frat guy.
821
00:49:50,779 --> 00:49:55,450
I recognize I didn't want
all that hoopla, you know.
822
00:49:59,329 --> 00:50:02,416
FRED: I would go to the gym
five days, six days a week.
823
00:50:02,499 --> 00:50:04,960
(ball bouncing)
824
00:50:05,043 --> 00:50:07,587
Guy was always there.
825
00:50:10,090 --> 00:50:11,341
He was a runner.
826
00:50:11,425 --> 00:50:12,926
I'm not a runner.
827
00:50:13,010 --> 00:50:16,930
And so it was more, you know,
waving and saying, hi.
828
00:50:19,599 --> 00:50:21,643
GUY: I don't
bring my work home.
829
00:50:21,727 --> 00:50:22,644
No.
830
00:50:22,728 --> 00:50:25,272
I, I left it at work.
831
00:50:25,355 --> 00:50:30,694
I had two kids that were going
into eighth and ninth grade.
832
00:50:31,194 --> 00:50:34,114
They needed my time.
833
00:50:36,742 --> 00:50:40,370
It's easy for me to
be an average guy.
834
00:50:43,498 --> 00:50:48,378
Sometimes I need to be
reminded that I am
835
00:50:48,462 --> 00:50:52,132
better than I think I am.
836
00:50:55,093 --> 00:50:57,721
REPORTER: The flight of STS-8
is now about 18 hours away.
837
00:50:57,804 --> 00:51:00,724
That's when Challenger
will be thrown into space.
838
00:51:00,807 --> 00:51:04,478
Official liftoff time set
for 2:15 tomorrow morning.
839
00:51:04,728 --> 00:51:06,688
It's the first nighttime
launch for the shuttle,
840
00:51:06,772 --> 00:51:09,274
but not the only first
for this mission.
841
00:51:09,357 --> 00:51:11,276
Colonel Guy Bluford
will make history when
842
00:51:11,359 --> 00:51:12,903
the shuttle lifts off.
843
00:51:12,986 --> 00:51:16,364
He'll become the first Black
American to fly in space.
844
00:51:18,450 --> 00:51:22,412
ED: All through my training,
I was told by friends and
845
00:51:22,496 --> 00:51:26,917
enemies alike, "You're 20
years too soon, buddy."
846
00:51:27,876 --> 00:51:31,338
This is something that
has to be resolved by
847
00:51:31,421 --> 00:51:34,174
{\an8}the American public.
848
00:51:36,802 --> 00:51:42,099
{\an8}And sure enough, 20 years
after I went into the program,
849
00:51:42,182 --> 00:51:44,726
Guy Bluford went up.
850
00:51:44,810 --> 00:51:46,853
20 years.
851
00:51:46,937 --> 00:51:50,232
(applause)
852
00:51:50,315 --> 00:51:54,444
GUY: I was surprised
when I got selected,
853
00:51:55,862 --> 00:51:57,405
but being the first
Black astronaut
854
00:51:57,489 --> 00:52:00,742
was just a toss-up between
me and Ron McNair.
855
00:52:02,661 --> 00:52:07,374
But then in the end, the
killer was I was a flyer.
856
00:52:07,457 --> 00:52:10,210
Ron McNair was not a pilot.
857
00:52:10,293 --> 00:52:14,756
MAN (over radio): T minus 11,
ten, nine, eight, seven.
858
00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:18,093
GUY: As the clock counts down,
the three main engines of the
859
00:52:18,176 --> 00:52:22,430
shuttle light up and the thing
that strikes my mind is,
860
00:52:22,514 --> 00:52:24,975
"Wow, this thing moves."
861
00:52:25,058 --> 00:52:26,518
(laughing)
862
00:52:26,601 --> 00:52:29,104
MAN (over radio): And the
shuttle has cleared the tower.
863
00:52:30,605 --> 00:52:36,153
(engine roaring)
864
00:52:37,028 --> 00:52:40,699
GUY: It takes an awful long time
for our society to change.
865
00:52:41,491 --> 00:52:45,120
There's all of this inertia
that you have to overcome,
866
00:52:45,662 --> 00:52:48,582
but we eventually
do it over time.
867
00:52:48,707 --> 00:52:50,041
ASTRONAUT (over radio):
Standing by for
868
00:52:50,125 --> 00:52:52,460
shuttle rocket separation.
869
00:53:02,012 --> 00:53:05,140
MAN (over radio): Challenger,
Houston with you on TDRS.
870
00:53:05,348 --> 00:53:07,475
ASTRONAUT (over radio): Houston,
Challenger loud and clear.
871
00:53:07,559 --> 00:53:08,894
How do you read the CDR?
872
00:53:08,977 --> 00:53:15,567
MAN (over radio): Roger.
Loud and clear also.
873
00:53:15,650 --> 00:53:22,199
(radio chatter)
874
00:53:24,034 --> 00:53:30,707
GUY: People ask me did I get
a spiritual uplifting, um,
875
00:53:30,790 --> 00:53:34,753
one with nature, all that
sort, I said, "No, no."
876
00:53:38,965 --> 00:53:42,761
On STS-8, my biggest concern
was do the best job possible.
877
00:53:43,094 --> 00:53:45,680
GUY: You can see we
have a smooth spin up.
878
00:53:45,764 --> 00:53:48,767
it spun all the way
up to 40 rpm and uh...
879
00:53:48,850 --> 00:53:52,145
stayed very stable
right at 40 rpm.
880
00:53:52,437 --> 00:53:54,439
GUY: I was less concerned
about the hoopla associated
881
00:53:54,522 --> 00:53:56,566
with a historical perspective.
882
00:53:56,650 --> 00:53:58,360
I'll handle that
when I get down.
883
00:53:58,443 --> 00:54:00,528
But I wanted to make sure I
did a good enough job that
884
00:54:00,612 --> 00:54:03,031
when I got down
people would say,
885
00:54:03,114 --> 00:54:05,325
"Bluford did a good
job and we can fly
886
00:54:05,408 --> 00:54:07,577
African-Americans and we
don't have to sweat it."
887
00:54:07,744 --> 00:54:10,080
MISSION CONTROL:
Challenger, Houston with you.
888
00:54:10,163 --> 00:54:12,457
The president is on the line.
889
00:54:13,041 --> 00:54:15,961
{\an8}REAGAN (over radio):
Guys, congratulations.
890
00:54:16,628 --> 00:54:19,631
You, I think, are paving the
way for many others and
891
00:54:19,714 --> 00:54:23,301
you're making it plain
that we are in an era of
892
00:54:23,385 --> 00:54:25,595
brotherhood here in our land.
893
00:54:25,679 --> 00:54:28,139
We're all looking forward to
another successful mission and
894
00:54:28,223 --> 00:54:32,018
to your safe landing here
in California on Labor Day.
895
00:54:34,521 --> 00:54:37,065
INTERVIEWER: This
question is for Guy.
896
00:54:37,148 --> 00:54:40,568
Could you reflect a little bit
back on your role and do you
897
00:54:40,652 --> 00:54:43,363
{\an8}think that your part in
the mission is helping to
898
00:54:43,446 --> 00:54:45,699
{\an8}pave the way for
other minorities?
899
00:54:45,782 --> 00:54:50,370
GUY: I think the answer to
the second question is yes.
900
00:54:50,453 --> 00:54:53,832
ANNOUNCER: Lieutenant
Colonel Guion S. Bluford.
901
00:54:53,915 --> 00:54:55,750
GUY: From a historical point
of view, I feel as if
902
00:54:55,834 --> 00:54:59,963
I'm opening the door for those
behind me and, uh, you know,
903
00:55:00,046 --> 00:55:02,090
I just anticipate that
this will be more of a
904
00:55:02,173 --> 00:55:05,343
normal operation than an
un-normal operation.
905
00:55:06,678 --> 00:55:11,099
♪ ♪
906
00:55:11,182 --> 00:55:15,103
It took me a while to
recognize the importance
907
00:55:15,186 --> 00:55:19,274
of being the first
African American.
908
00:55:20,734 --> 00:55:25,488
And then I learned
about Ed Dwight.
909
00:55:26,197 --> 00:55:28,366
INTERVIEWER: An interesting time
to note that a Black American
910
00:55:28,450 --> 00:55:30,994
might have been into
space a long time earlier.
911
00:55:31,077 --> 00:55:33,663
(applause)
912
00:55:33,747 --> 00:55:36,374
What's your feeling
about Guy Bluford?
913
00:55:36,458 --> 00:55:37,751
ED: That's incredible.
914
00:55:37,834 --> 00:55:39,878
Yeah, he's done a very
outstanding job and
915
00:55:39,961 --> 00:55:42,797
he's to be congratulated.
916
00:55:44,132 --> 00:55:47,218
GUY: People look up to you
because you have done this,
917
00:55:47,302 --> 00:55:49,179
even though you may
have questioned if you
918
00:55:49,304 --> 00:55:51,931
really deserve it or not.
919
00:55:54,726 --> 00:55:58,146
I'd made it because
Ed Dwight did his thing
920
00:55:58,229 --> 00:56:01,232
and for me that was a biggie.
921
00:56:04,110 --> 00:56:09,407
♪ ♪
922
00:56:09,491 --> 00:56:13,078
REAGAN: Modern day heroes,
like Guy Bluford,
923
00:56:13,161 --> 00:56:15,955
are emerging and aspiring
new faith in our system and
924
00:56:16,039 --> 00:56:18,500
new hope for the future.
925
00:56:24,339 --> 00:56:27,008
FRED: When I went into
the astronaut program with
926
00:56:27,092 --> 00:56:31,179
Ron and Guy,
927
00:56:32,263 --> 00:56:36,017
I thought that we found this
torch and lit this torch.
928
00:56:39,396 --> 00:56:43,066
But what we found was
that after Ed Dwight,
929
00:56:43,149 --> 00:56:46,569
there were other
Black astronauts and
930
00:56:46,653 --> 00:56:50,156
{\an8}all of this history was
never, ever recorded.
931
00:56:50,990 --> 00:56:54,452
Oh, this one's top secret.
932
00:56:57,580 --> 00:57:01,167
That's when I learned about
a guy named Bob Lawrence.
933
00:57:02,419 --> 00:57:04,379
JOURNALIST: Major Lawrence,
do yourself feel that this
934
00:57:04,587 --> 00:57:07,382
is a tremendous step
forward in racial relations?
935
00:57:07,465 --> 00:57:09,175
{\an8}ROBERT: No, I don't
think this is especially
936
00:57:09,259 --> 00:57:11,136
{\an8}a tremendous step forward.
937
00:57:11,219 --> 00:57:13,888
{\an8}I think it's just another
one of the things that, uh,
938
00:57:13,972 --> 00:57:17,183
we look forward to in this
country with respect to
939
00:57:17,267 --> 00:57:20,186
the progress in civil rights.
940
00:57:22,272 --> 00:57:24,232
CHARLIE: When we look at
the comparison between
941
00:57:24,315 --> 00:57:25,817
Bob Lawrence and Ed Dwight,
942
00:57:25,900 --> 00:57:28,278
Bob Lawrence was in
a classified program
943
00:57:28,361 --> 00:57:32,115
and that was okay to people
who resisted Ed Dwight.
944
00:57:32,198 --> 00:57:34,242
{\an8}They could handle somebody
in a classified program
945
00:57:34,325 --> 00:57:36,703
{\an8}who may never be seen.
946
00:57:37,829 --> 00:57:41,040
FRED: The MOL program was a
very secretive DOD program.
947
00:57:41,124 --> 00:57:44,002
Those who were in the program
were all very successful
948
00:57:44,085 --> 00:57:45,879
in their careers.
949
00:57:45,962 --> 00:57:49,299
And so it was expected that
Bob Lawrence would be
950
00:57:49,382 --> 00:57:52,385
the first Black astronaut.
951
00:57:53,386 --> 00:57:56,306
(engine rumbling)
952
00:57:56,389 --> 00:58:00,852
CHARLIE: For jet training, the
Air Force used the F104 and,
953
00:58:00,935 --> 00:58:03,313
um, on this particular day,
954
00:58:03,396 --> 00:58:06,983
Bob Lawrence was actually
training another pilot.
955
00:58:08,985 --> 00:58:11,571
The student was flying
an approach, executed to
956
00:58:11,654 --> 00:58:14,407
pull up a little bit late,
and Bob Lawrence was able
957
00:58:14,491 --> 00:58:16,326
to call for him to eject.
958
00:58:16,409 --> 00:58:18,411
So the student got
out of the airplane,
959
00:58:18,495 --> 00:58:20,455
but Bob Lawrence was
not able to get out.
960
00:58:20,538 --> 00:58:23,833
(engine rumbling)
961
00:58:23,917 --> 00:58:30,673
♪ ♪
962
00:58:32,759 --> 00:58:36,095
BARBARA: After Bob was killed,
I got a letter from some
963
00:58:36,179 --> 00:58:39,557
{\an8}irate citizen that said that
they were glad that he was dead
964
00:58:39,641 --> 00:58:42,644
{\an8}because now there would
be no coons on the moon.
965
00:58:45,188 --> 00:58:48,233
You know, mixed in with
the sympathy cards,
966
00:58:48,316 --> 00:58:51,319
every once in a while you'd open
an envelope and here would be,
967
00:58:51,402 --> 00:58:54,739
you know, a letter or a note
saying how happy they were
968
00:58:54,822 --> 00:58:58,076
that the event had taken place.
969
00:59:01,538 --> 00:59:03,706
FRED: He was only in
the program about
970
00:59:03,790 --> 00:59:08,503
five or six months and,
um, it's a shame.
971
00:59:08,586 --> 00:59:11,506
It really is a shame.
972
00:59:21,891 --> 00:59:24,936
(papers rustling)
973
00:59:25,895 --> 00:59:27,897
It's amazing.
974
00:59:27,981 --> 00:59:30,316
Absolutely amazing.
975
00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:33,027
And then I found out
that the Soviet Union
976
00:59:33,111 --> 00:59:35,905
also had a Black astronaut.
977
00:59:39,701 --> 00:59:41,494
{\an8}♪ ♪
978
00:59:41,661 --> 00:59:43,621
ARNADO: Cuba was
the ninth country...
979
00:59:43,705 --> 00:59:47,667
that had the chance
to travel to space.
980
00:59:47,750 --> 00:59:49,877
And I became...
981
00:59:49,961 --> 00:59:53,172
{\an8}the cosmonaut number 97.
982
00:59:57,677 --> 00:59:59,304
CHARLIE: Around the
same time that we had
983
00:59:59,387 --> 01:00:01,431
Guy and Fred and Ron,
984
01:00:01,514 --> 01:00:04,058
there was a Cuban who was
the first person of color
985
01:00:04,142 --> 01:00:07,437
to fly when he flew
with the Russians.
986
01:00:10,523 --> 01:00:14,569
And in the case of civilian
space and space exploration,
987
01:00:14,652 --> 01:00:17,655
the Soviet Union
was our enemy,
988
01:00:17,739 --> 01:00:20,450
but the Soviets were
very conscious of the
989
01:00:20,533 --> 01:00:24,162
racial disparity that we have
here in the United States.
990
01:00:24,245 --> 01:00:27,999
And so a program was formed
to show that they were
991
01:00:28,082 --> 01:00:32,170
allowing people of all
creeds, colors, persuasions
992
01:00:32,253 --> 01:00:35,548
to have this opportunity
to go to space.
993
01:00:35,632 --> 01:00:37,300
That was really important,
994
01:00:37,383 --> 01:00:40,511
even if it were just
one person at a time.
995
01:00:42,722 --> 01:00:45,892
Tamayo was the Soviet
version of Ed Dwight.
996
01:00:45,975 --> 01:00:49,020
They both were selected
for propaganda purposes,
997
01:00:49,103 --> 01:00:51,814
but the Soviets
made that history,
998
01:00:51,898 --> 01:00:54,692
not the United States.
999
01:00:54,942 --> 01:00:59,155
{\an8}(speaking foreign language).
1000
01:00:59,280 --> 01:01:01,032
{\an8}CHARLIE: We were competing
with the Soviet Union on
1001
01:01:01,115 --> 01:01:03,159
the international stage where
you wanted to demonstrate
1002
01:01:03,242 --> 01:01:06,162
that you were the power.
1003
01:01:06,245 --> 01:01:08,289
So we never recognized
the importance of
1004
01:01:08,373 --> 01:01:10,583
his accomplishment.
1005
01:01:11,459 --> 01:01:12,585
ARNADO: In the United States...
1006
01:01:13,670 --> 01:01:16,881
everything that had to do
with Cuban success,
1007
01:01:16,964 --> 01:01:18,716
they restricted it.
1008
01:01:19,050 --> 01:01:21,094
CHARLIE: I didn't know
anything at all about Tamayo.
1009
01:01:21,177 --> 01:01:22,762
FRED: I have no idea.
1010
01:01:22,845 --> 01:01:24,972
GUY: I didn't
know who Arnado was.
1011
01:01:25,056 --> 01:01:28,726
I know where Cuba is,
90 miles south of Florida.
1012
01:01:28,810 --> 01:01:31,688
That's about as much
as I know about Cuba.
1013
01:01:31,896 --> 01:01:37,902
ARNADO: No media has published
the results on television.
1014
01:01:38,319 --> 01:01:42,115
They say that
it's a Cuban tale.
1015
01:01:43,991 --> 01:01:46,744
FRED: As you begin to look
back and you see a lot of
1016
01:01:46,828 --> 01:01:49,330
our history was never known.
1017
01:01:49,414 --> 01:01:52,333
And so here I thought I was
initiating all of this stuff
1018
01:01:52,417 --> 01:01:54,669
because I'd never read about
it, never heard about it,
1019
01:01:54,752 --> 01:01:58,214
and then I realized, no,
I'm just in line, you know.
1020
01:02:05,388 --> 01:02:11,352
♪ ♪
1021
01:02:12,186 --> 01:02:16,107
(cheering, applause)
1022
01:02:16,190 --> 01:02:19,861
GUY: Once I became
famous so to speak,
1023
01:02:19,944 --> 01:02:22,655
{\an8}I could have easily taken off.
1024
01:02:22,739 --> 01:02:25,116
{\an8}No.
1025
01:02:25,783 --> 01:02:31,038
My job was to break
open the barrier,
1026
01:02:32,248 --> 01:02:35,251
but my accomplishment
would not mean much
1027
01:02:35,334 --> 01:02:38,963
unless other Black
astronauts fly.
1028
01:02:41,799 --> 01:02:44,677
I thought I had the
responsibility to make sure
1029
01:02:44,761 --> 01:02:49,640
Ron fly, make sure Fred flies,
make sure Charlie flies.
1030
01:02:52,226 --> 01:02:56,981
And I'm a big time, "Hey, I
want to make sure you fly."
1031
01:02:57,732 --> 01:03:03,362
♪ ♪
1032
01:03:03,446 --> 01:03:06,282
GUY: At that point, there were
an awful lot of missions
1033
01:03:06,365 --> 01:03:11,078
going on, so we were busier
than a one-armed bandit.
1034
01:03:12,079 --> 01:03:15,500
♪ Pack your grip,
takin' you on a trip ♪
1035
01:03:15,583 --> 01:03:18,211
CHARLIE: When Ron was getting
ready for his first flight,
1036
01:03:18,294 --> 01:03:20,546
a lot of his training happened
at the Kennedy Space Center
1037
01:03:20,630 --> 01:03:23,674
in Florida, and he
needed a way to get there.
1038
01:03:23,758 --> 01:03:26,552
And I found out that we both
grew up in South Carolina,
1039
01:03:26,636 --> 01:03:29,972
so I volunteered to
be Ron's chauffeur.
1040
01:03:30,056 --> 01:03:33,726
♪ On the groove line tonight ♪
1041
01:03:33,810 --> 01:03:35,812
FRED: When I got my
first assignment,
1042
01:03:35,895 --> 01:03:37,605
my job was a pilot.
1043
01:03:37,688 --> 01:03:39,649
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
1044
01:03:39,732 --> 01:03:40,817
♪ Get this train ♪
1045
01:03:40,900 --> 01:03:43,945
FRED: The mission itself
was a laboratory mission.
1046
01:03:44,028 --> 01:03:46,113
That was exciting to me
because I knew that
1047
01:03:46,197 --> 01:03:50,910
what they then learned would
be in books or in lectures.
1048
01:03:50,993 --> 01:03:54,372
That is the thing
that keeps you excited.
1049
01:03:54,455 --> 01:03:57,500
It's the thrill of discovery.
1050
01:04:01,838 --> 01:04:04,799
GUY: I did not want to
be a one-time flyer.
1051
01:04:04,882 --> 01:04:06,050
♪ Leave your worries behind ♪
1052
01:04:06,133 --> 01:04:08,094
GUY: Plus I enjoyed
flying in space.
1053
01:04:08,177 --> 01:04:14,100
So I elected to fly my second
flight in October of '85,
1054
01:04:15,059 --> 01:04:18,604
and then there was
Charlie Bolden.
1055
01:04:19,272 --> 01:04:20,523
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
1056
01:04:20,606 --> 01:04:21,816
♪ Yeah tonight ♪ ♪
1057
01:04:21,899 --> 01:04:23,526
CHARLIE: I was in the
second group of people
1058
01:04:23,609 --> 01:04:24,819
selected to fly
the space shuttle.
1059
01:04:24,902 --> 01:04:27,864
And when I think
about my journey into space,
1060
01:04:27,947 --> 01:04:30,533
I contend everybody who
gets to see the planet
1061
01:04:30,616 --> 01:04:34,662
from that perspective
will be changed forever.
1062
01:04:35,913 --> 01:04:40,543
♪ Tonight ♪
1063
01:04:40,626 --> 01:04:44,380
♪ Rain, shine, don't mind ♪
1064
01:04:44,463 --> 01:04:49,260
♪ We're ridin' on the
groove line tonight ♪ ♪
1065
01:04:51,929 --> 01:04:54,098
CHARLIE: Once you get to
space, you are literally
1066
01:04:54,181 --> 01:04:56,893
trying to fall back to earth
and centrifugal force won't
1067
01:04:56,976 --> 01:05:00,563
let you, and so you
feel like you're floating.
1068
01:05:00,646 --> 01:05:03,566
So that was the feel,
the sense of feel.
1069
01:05:03,649 --> 01:05:06,903
The knockout punch though
was the sense of sight.
1070
01:05:18,456 --> 01:05:22,335
This planet is incredibly
breathtaking and
1071
01:05:22,418 --> 01:05:24,670
looking through the
cameras that God gave us,
1072
01:05:24,754 --> 01:05:26,505
it is unlike anything
1073
01:05:26,589 --> 01:05:30,635
that you can see through
even the best cameras.
1074
01:05:32,470 --> 01:05:36,140
None of them
compare to the human eye.
1075
01:05:39,936 --> 01:05:43,606
GUY: One of the things that
really surprised me was
1076
01:05:43,689 --> 01:05:46,567
how small the earth was.
1077
01:05:46,651 --> 01:05:49,904
We went around the
earth every 90 minutes.
1078
01:05:54,951 --> 01:05:57,787
FRED: Some of the very
smart scientists went to orbit
1079
01:05:57,870 --> 01:06:01,248
knowing what they were going
to see, and I found in many
1080
01:06:01,332 --> 01:06:05,336
cases they didn't
know what the truth was.
1081
01:06:08,798 --> 01:06:11,550
That was exciting to me
because that began to justify
1082
01:06:11,634 --> 01:06:13,970
the reason why we were
doing these things,
1083
01:06:14,053 --> 01:06:17,264
was to learn and discover.
1084
01:06:18,891 --> 01:06:20,851
CHARLIE: I remember the
first time I looked at the
1085
01:06:20,935 --> 01:06:24,063
continent of Africa, I cried.
1086
01:06:27,233 --> 01:06:28,943
I had studied for a year,
1087
01:06:29,026 --> 01:06:31,529
preparing myself to be able
to look down and see
1088
01:06:31,612 --> 01:06:34,699
Senegal and Nigeria and all
these other countries,
1089
01:06:34,782 --> 01:06:37,368
and I couldn't tell
one country from the other
1090
01:06:37,451 --> 01:06:40,496
because there were no lines.
1091
01:06:43,249 --> 01:06:46,335
You looked at that and you
recognize the way God
1092
01:06:46,419 --> 01:06:49,880
intended the planet to be.
1093
01:06:53,426 --> 01:06:55,720
We all knew it was going to be
something, but we had no clue
1094
01:06:55,803 --> 01:06:59,181
that it was going to have
the impact that it had.
1095
01:06:59,265 --> 01:07:01,017
RON: No words.
1096
01:07:01,100 --> 01:07:04,353
{\an8}I'm sorry there just
aren't any words.
1097
01:07:04,437 --> 01:07:06,772
{\an8}There just aren't any words.
1098
01:07:07,064 --> 01:07:09,483
The blacks are blacker,
the blues are bluer,
1099
01:07:09,567 --> 01:07:10,901
and the whole experience of
1100
01:07:10,985 --> 01:07:13,487
watching sunrises in a
matter of a few seconds
1101
01:07:13,571 --> 01:07:17,950
and set just as
fast is mind-boggling.
1102
01:07:21,537 --> 01:07:24,123
CHARLIE: Nine days after
I flew my first flight,
1103
01:07:24,206 --> 01:07:27,293
Ron and his crew strapped
in for his second mission.
1104
01:07:27,376 --> 01:07:29,045
PHOTOGRAPHER: All right,
now ready to go.
1105
01:07:29,128 --> 01:07:30,755
Okay, up on the stool there.
Real tall.
1106
01:07:30,838 --> 01:07:32,465
BARBARA: Up here?
1107
01:07:32,548 --> 01:07:33,799
FRANCIS: We need
the jackets zipped or
1108
01:07:33,883 --> 01:07:34,842
you want to leave them?
1109
01:07:35,051 --> 01:07:36,886
PHOTOGRAPHER: Why
don't we zip them up?
1110
01:07:36,969 --> 01:07:39,221
Casual, big smile.
1111
01:07:39,305 --> 01:07:41,974
We caught Ron at a good time.
1112
01:07:43,267 --> 01:07:45,811
FRANCIS: Alison,
how about smiling?
1113
01:07:45,895 --> 01:07:47,438
RON: I only brought one smile.
1114
01:07:47,521 --> 01:07:48,814
I'm going to save that one.
1115
01:07:48,898 --> 01:07:50,483
BARBARA: Ron, you
like you're thinking.
1116
01:07:50,566 --> 01:07:53,235
FRANCIS: Ron's going to
save it for the real thing.
1117
01:07:53,319 --> 01:07:58,657
(applause)
1118
01:07:58,991 --> 01:08:00,785
MAN (over radio): This is
Mission Control Houston,
1119
01:08:00,910 --> 01:08:03,245
all orbiter systems continue
to function normally and
1120
01:08:03,329 --> 01:08:07,041
Mission Control is ready for
the launch this morning.
1121
01:08:07,958 --> 01:08:09,335
FRED: In the space program,
1122
01:08:09,418 --> 01:08:12,129
everybody's got
different jobs to do.
1123
01:08:12,213 --> 01:08:16,175
My role on the Challenger
mission 51L was as the
1124
01:08:16,258 --> 01:08:19,345
lead Cap Com,
capsule communicator.
1125
01:08:19,428 --> 01:08:24,308
MAN (over radio): T minus
10, 9, 8, 7, 6.
1126
01:08:24,391 --> 01:08:26,852
We have main engines start.
1127
01:08:26,936 --> 01:08:32,733
4, 3, 2, 1, and liftoff.
1128
01:08:32,817 --> 01:08:35,486
Liftoff called the 25th
Space Shuttle mission and
1129
01:08:35,569 --> 01:08:38,072
it has cleared the tower.
1130
01:08:38,155 --> 01:08:40,241
FRED: All of the experts
in Mission Control have
1131
01:08:40,324 --> 01:08:43,410
monitors in front and
it's a lot of data,
1132
01:08:43,911 --> 01:08:46,622
and I'm looking at a monitor
behind the flight door.
1133
01:08:46,705 --> 01:08:47,998
MAN (over radio): We got 65.
1134
01:08:48,082 --> 01:08:49,250
MAN (over radio): 65, final.
1135
01:08:49,333 --> 01:08:52,169
MAN (over radio): (inaudible)
confirms, thank you.
1136
01:08:52,586 --> 01:08:54,922
MAN (over radio): Challenger,
go with throttle up.
1137
01:08:55,005 --> 01:08:56,340
(radio chatter)
1138
01:08:56,423 --> 01:09:01,345
FRED: And I see this,
this big explosion.
1139
01:09:02,555 --> 01:09:06,016
And I wanted to immediately
grab the microphone and say
1140
01:09:06,100 --> 01:09:08,227
something like,
"Godspeed, Challenger,"
1141
01:09:09,436 --> 01:09:12,690
but I didn't, and I
regret it to this day.
1142
01:09:19,071 --> 01:09:22,867
CHARLIE: Um...
1143
01:09:22,950 --> 01:09:26,412
You know, life changed
forever for a lot of us.
1144
01:09:29,206 --> 01:09:35,212
♪ ♪
1145
01:09:35,296 --> 01:09:38,549
For me, I had to make a
decision like everybody
1146
01:09:38,632 --> 01:09:40,426
in the office,
"Was I going to stay?"
1147
01:09:40,509 --> 01:09:44,096
You know, "Is this
really what I want to do?"
1148
01:09:48,267 --> 01:09:52,396
And um, it took, it took me,
1149
01:09:52,479 --> 01:09:54,523
I tell people it
took me a nanosecond.
1150
01:09:54,607 --> 01:09:56,317
I mean, like, really quick.
1151
01:09:56,400 --> 01:09:58,360
I thought about it and
instantly I said, you know,
1152
01:09:58,485 --> 01:10:02,740
"Ron would be really pissed
if I walked away now, if, um,
1153
01:10:02,823 --> 01:10:06,619
if I didn't go to work and
figure out what went wrong
1154
01:10:06,702 --> 01:10:09,413
so that it never happens again."
1155
01:10:11,457 --> 01:10:14,835
{\an8}To be quite honest, Ron is the
reason that I'm here today.
1156
01:10:14,919 --> 01:10:16,629
Had it not been for meeting
Ron, I probably would've
1157
01:10:16,712 --> 01:10:20,466
never even thought about
applying for the space program.
1158
01:10:20,549 --> 01:10:23,427
1978, when I started
test pilot school,
1159
01:10:23,510 --> 01:10:26,055
was also coincidentally
the year that NASA selected
1160
01:10:26,138 --> 01:10:29,391
{\an8}the first group of space
shuttle astronauts.
1161
01:10:30,226 --> 01:10:32,353
One day, three or
four NASA T-38s,
1162
01:10:32,436 --> 01:10:34,063
each of them carrying
two astronauts,
1163
01:10:34,146 --> 01:10:35,689
pulled up on the flight line,
1164
01:10:35,773 --> 01:10:39,485
and out of the backseat
jumped this Black guy.
1165
01:10:44,198 --> 01:10:45,991
I knew there were three
Blacks in the program,
1166
01:10:46,075 --> 01:10:49,745
but it was not until I
physically met Ron McNair
1167
01:10:49,828 --> 01:10:53,707
that I experienced the
power of representation.
1168
01:10:56,543 --> 01:10:59,964
I rushed over to meet him and
greet him, just mesmerized.
1169
01:11:02,091 --> 01:11:04,468
He and I spent the weekend
just talking about what it was
1170
01:11:04,551 --> 01:11:08,389
like in his training and how
exciting it was and all that.
1171
01:11:08,472 --> 01:11:09,848
And the last thing
he asked me, he said,
1172
01:11:09,932 --> 01:11:11,475
"Hey, are you gonna
apply for the program?"
1173
01:11:11,558 --> 01:11:13,352
I told him, "Not on your life."
1174
01:11:13,435 --> 01:11:16,647
I said, "Ron, they'd
never pick me."
1175
01:11:16,730 --> 01:11:19,984
He looked at me with this
incredulous look on his face,
1176
01:11:20,067 --> 01:11:21,860
got a scowl almost, and said,
1177
01:11:21,944 --> 01:11:24,613
"That is the dumbest
thing I ever heard."
1178
01:11:24,697 --> 01:11:27,950
He said, "How do you
know if you don't ask?"
1179
01:11:28,033 --> 01:11:30,452
So I just kind of stood there
startled and watched Ron
1180
01:11:30,536 --> 01:11:32,997
get in his airplane and
blast back to Houston.
1181
01:11:33,080 --> 01:11:36,208
(engine roaring)
1182
01:11:36,292 --> 01:11:37,960
I went home and
I said, you know,
1183
01:11:38,043 --> 01:11:40,879
"I think I'm gonna apply
for the space program."
1184
01:11:44,466 --> 01:11:49,179
Ron was a mentor to me, much
as my mom and dad had been.
1185
01:11:50,764 --> 01:11:54,059
He was also a brother
in a lot of senses.
1186
01:11:54,893 --> 01:11:57,730
You don't see too many
people like Ron McNair.
1187
01:12:01,191 --> 01:12:05,487
{\an8}JESSE: What lessons do we
learn from this trauma?
1188
01:12:06,322 --> 01:12:12,953
America at its best, two
women, a Jew, a Black,
1189
01:12:13,037 --> 01:12:18,917
an Asian, white males,
at our best as a nation.
1190
01:12:20,085 --> 01:12:24,340
Progress always
comes after sacrifice.
1191
01:12:28,010 --> 01:12:30,846
GUY: In the astronaut office,
all the people that had been
1192
01:12:30,929 --> 01:12:34,099
assigned to crews, all
of that was canceled.
1193
01:12:34,183 --> 01:12:36,685
The whole agency
came to a stop.
1194
01:12:36,769 --> 01:12:39,480
We didn't know what to do.
1195
01:12:39,688 --> 01:12:43,275
(helicopter whirring)
1196
01:12:43,359 --> 01:12:47,946
(engine rumbling)
1197
01:12:52,326 --> 01:12:58,040
In my case, I had good
friends on the shuttle.
1198
01:12:59,375 --> 01:13:02,336
That's why I stayed.
1199
01:13:10,094 --> 01:13:12,304
CHARLIE: Within weeks,
I got assigned to take over
1200
01:13:12,388 --> 01:13:14,973
the Safety Division at the
Johnson Space Center.
1201
01:13:15,057 --> 01:13:20,437
♪ ♪
1202
01:13:20,521 --> 01:13:22,272
It gave me something
to do to feel that
1203
01:13:22,356 --> 01:13:25,025
I was contributing
to the recovery.
1204
01:13:25,109 --> 01:13:28,028
♪ ♪
1205
01:13:28,112 --> 01:13:30,030
GUY: Charlie was a brand
new guy in the office,
1206
01:13:30,114 --> 01:13:31,490
so to speak.
1207
01:13:31,573 --> 01:13:33,909
I was on the action
investigation team.
1208
01:13:33,992 --> 01:13:37,454
We looked at everything.
1209
01:13:39,331 --> 01:13:41,625
And I thought, of all
the things I could do
1210
01:13:41,708 --> 01:13:45,337
to honor those people is to
make sure that we find out
1211
01:13:45,421 --> 01:13:48,841
what happens
and we fly safely.
1212
01:13:48,924 --> 01:13:51,844
FLIGHT CONTROLLER (over radio):
And lift-off, lift-off.
1213
01:13:51,927 --> 01:13:56,014
America's return to space as
Discovery clears the tower.
1214
01:13:56,098 --> 01:13:57,391
CHARLIE: And we did
return to flight.
1215
01:13:57,474 --> 01:14:00,060
And that was really important
that we showed that
1216
01:14:00,144 --> 01:14:02,438
we could get knocked down,
we could figure things out,
1217
01:14:02,521 --> 01:14:04,064
and we could get back up.
1218
01:14:04,148 --> 01:14:06,775
(engine roaring)
1219
01:14:06,859 --> 01:14:09,111
In addition to that,
representation becomes
1220
01:14:09,194 --> 01:14:13,323
critically important to help
us keep moving down that path.
1221
01:14:13,407 --> 01:14:16,618
{\an8}♪ ♪
1222
01:14:16,702 --> 01:14:18,871
{\an8}MAE: We are now at the point
where we can bring together
1223
01:14:18,954 --> 01:14:21,748
{\an8}lots of different types of
people and make sure that
1224
01:14:21,832 --> 01:14:25,127
we're using all the
talents that we have.
1225
01:14:30,549 --> 01:14:36,638
{\an8}BERNARD: As a Black astronaut,
we are symbols of what we can
1226
01:14:36,722 --> 01:14:39,183
accomplish as a people,
1227
01:14:39,266 --> 01:14:42,478
despite what others
may think of us.
1228
01:14:46,857 --> 01:14:51,612
{\an8}(applause)
1229
01:14:53,113 --> 01:14:56,325
{\an8}CHARLIE: I strongly believe
that firsts are not important,
1230
01:14:56,408 --> 01:14:59,203
{\an8}if there are no seconds and
thirds and fourths, and that
1231
01:14:59,286 --> 01:15:01,955
{\an8}only comes when you have a
diverse workforce that is
1232
01:15:02,039 --> 01:15:05,667
{\an8}representative of
the nation as a whole.
1233
01:15:12,341 --> 01:15:17,513
{\an8}♪ ♪
1234
01:15:17,596 --> 01:15:21,934
{\an8}I want the history books
to represent everyone.
1235
01:15:22,643 --> 01:15:25,395
{\an8}I don't want it to
represent just one side
1236
01:15:25,479 --> 01:15:27,314
{\an8}the way it does today.
1237
01:15:30,275 --> 01:15:32,486
{\an8}LELAND: When you fly in
space, you feel this
1238
01:15:32,569 --> 01:15:35,656
profound connection to the
legacy of those that have
1239
01:15:35,739 --> 01:15:39,368
been there before you and
actually helped you get there.
1240
01:15:40,244 --> 01:15:43,497
But this sense of legacy
was never more apparent
1241
01:15:43,580 --> 01:15:47,793
than in 2020 when
Victor Glover was in space.
1242
01:15:53,840 --> 01:15:57,177
VICTOR: While I was in space,
I thought about legacy
1243
01:15:57,261 --> 01:16:00,889
quite often,
1244
01:16:00,973 --> 01:16:03,976
because it is a very
small group of people
1245
01:16:04,059 --> 01:16:06,520
that can truly understand
what it's like
1246
01:16:06,603 --> 01:16:09,398
to be a Black astronaut.
1247
01:16:09,481 --> 01:16:11,358
WOMAN (over film): Astronaut
Victor Glover has spent
1248
01:16:11,441 --> 01:16:14,236
the past month and a half on
the International Space Station
1249
01:16:14,319 --> 01:16:17,364
on a long-term mission.
1250
01:16:17,447 --> 01:16:20,659
VICTOR: Growing up in
America as a person of color,
1251
01:16:20,742 --> 01:16:23,829
there's this double
consciousness pulling
1252
01:16:23,912 --> 01:16:26,290
in different directions.
1253
01:16:26,373 --> 01:16:31,128
{\an8}That tension, um, doesn't
get any easier, you know,
1254
01:16:31,211 --> 01:16:33,714
{\an8}when you get to be an astronaut.
1255
01:16:36,842 --> 01:16:39,886
BERNARD: As Black people in
this country, we have always
1256
01:16:39,970 --> 01:16:42,764
had to navigate
these two worlds,
1257
01:16:42,848 --> 01:16:45,684
one foot in the Black community
1258
01:16:45,767 --> 01:16:48,687
and the other
in the white community.
1259
01:16:48,770 --> 01:16:51,565
And it is not a choice.
1260
01:16:51,648 --> 01:16:53,609
It's something that
we have to do if
1261
01:16:53,692 --> 01:16:56,320
we're going to be successful.
1262
01:16:56,987 --> 01:16:59,448
CROWD: I can't breathe! I can't
breathe! I can't breathe!
1263
01:16:59,531 --> 01:17:00,991
MAN: The 12th day
of demonstrations in
1264
01:17:01,074 --> 01:17:03,327
dozens of cities, one of
the biggest nationwide
1265
01:17:03,410 --> 01:17:05,996
days of protest since the
killing of George Floyd
1266
01:17:06,079 --> 01:17:08,915
in police custody.
1267
01:17:12,502 --> 01:17:14,671
VICTOR: The Derek Chauvin
trial over the killing of
1268
01:17:14,755 --> 01:17:18,342
George Floyd happened
while I was in space.
1269
01:17:21,303 --> 01:17:24,556
I took a painting of
George Floyd with me.
1270
01:17:25,557 --> 01:17:29,728
It was right next to me for
six months, for 167 days.
1271
01:17:33,774 --> 01:17:35,692
It is difficult when,
you know, you want to be
1272
01:17:35,776 --> 01:17:39,988
a part of the movement, but
I also am a military officer
1273
01:17:40,072 --> 01:17:44,284
and a NASA astronaut, and that
comes with a responsibility.
1274
01:17:48,580 --> 01:17:50,415
Trying to rectify the
bittersweet nature of this
1275
01:17:50,499 --> 01:17:54,670
country that can send me to
space as its representative,
1276
01:17:54,753 --> 01:17:57,547
but also has allowed these
things to happen to Black men
1277
01:17:57,631 --> 01:18:00,676
and women, more so than
in any other people,
1278
01:18:00,759 --> 01:18:04,429
it was an overwhelming and
emotional time for me.
1279
01:18:09,017 --> 01:18:13,897
(crickets chirping)
1280
01:18:15,232 --> 01:18:17,901
LELAND: There's
Victor in space.
1281
01:18:18,694 --> 01:18:20,487
When I think back on
this really tough time
1282
01:18:20,570 --> 01:18:23,407
in our country, I think
about what I was feeling
1283
01:18:23,490 --> 01:18:28,120
down here on Earth
and I felt numb.
1284
01:18:29,788 --> 01:18:32,040
I could only imagine what
my brother, Victor Glover,
1285
01:18:32,124 --> 01:18:35,335
was feeling up there.
1286
01:18:35,544 --> 01:18:37,295
LELAND (over phone): Hey,
everyone, how you doing?
1287
01:18:37,421 --> 01:18:40,799
Um, it's been a tough,
uh, few days.
1288
01:18:42,676 --> 01:18:46,430
{\an8}I, I keep talking about that
juxtaposition of doing this
1289
01:18:46,513 --> 01:18:52,185
{\an8}most incredible, audacious,
heroic thing and we get
1290
01:18:52,269 --> 01:18:56,606
people up to space and,
uh, really hard stuff.
1291
01:18:56,690 --> 01:18:59,651
Rocket science is pretty hard,
1292
01:18:59,735 --> 01:19:05,991
but civil rights in our country,
it ain't rocket science.
1293
01:19:08,952 --> 01:19:14,833
♪ ♪
1294
01:19:14,916 --> 01:19:19,254
CHARLIE: For me,
this is like deja vu.
1295
01:19:21,715 --> 01:19:25,177
It's frustrating and angering,
and you look back and you say,
1296
01:19:25,260 --> 01:19:28,805
"I cannot believe that all
the things that we worked for,
1297
01:19:28,889 --> 01:19:31,725
we're going backwards."
1298
01:19:35,520 --> 01:19:38,565
LELAND: I was watching the
news, thinking about that
1299
01:19:38,648 --> 01:19:41,067
could have been me.
1300
01:19:41,151 --> 01:19:43,695
That's the gravity of
this situation, right?
1301
01:19:43,779 --> 01:19:46,990
It could have been any of us.
1302
01:19:51,620 --> 01:19:58,251
♪ ♪
1303
01:19:59,753 --> 01:20:01,922
VICTOR: There were a lot of
emotions and things that
1304
01:20:02,005 --> 01:20:04,800
I tried to do to unpack that.
1305
01:20:04,883 --> 01:20:07,761
And for me, it helps
to talk to other folks
1306
01:20:07,844 --> 01:20:10,722
who have had to deal
with it, as well.
1307
01:20:10,806 --> 01:20:12,432
WOMAN (over radio): Station,
this is Houston.
1308
01:20:12,516 --> 01:20:14,351
Are you ready for the event?
1309
01:20:14,434 --> 01:20:16,770
VICTOR: Houston,
this is Station.
1310
01:20:16,853 --> 01:20:19,147
I am ready for the event.
1311
01:20:22,025 --> 01:20:24,861
LELAND: In the midst of all
of this, Victor reached out
1312
01:20:24,945 --> 01:20:28,323
to the Black astronauts
to have a call.
1313
01:20:32,869 --> 01:20:35,455
{\an8}I was blown away to
see all of these names
1314
01:20:35,539 --> 01:20:37,624
{\an8}pop up on the screen,
1315
01:20:37,707 --> 01:20:39,042
{\an8}Mae Jemison,
Charlie Bolden,
1316
01:20:39,125 --> 01:20:40,961
{\an8}Guy Bluford.
1317
01:20:41,044 --> 01:20:42,879
VICTOR: They were all saying,
"What can we do for you?
1318
01:20:43,004 --> 01:20:44,589
How can we help you?
How can we support you?"
1319
01:20:44,673 --> 01:20:47,551
And that just, they were
giving me exactly what
1320
01:20:47,634 --> 01:20:50,929
I needed by just being
there in fellowship.
1321
01:20:53,348 --> 01:20:57,143
LELAND: That was a really
transformational call for me.
1322
01:20:57,227 --> 01:20:59,521
Until the Victor thing happened,
1323
01:20:59,604 --> 01:21:02,691
I wasn't talking
to Fred or Guy, or the,
1324
01:21:02,774 --> 01:21:05,277
I mean, if I bumped into them,
we would maybe say, "Hi,"
1325
01:21:05,360 --> 01:21:06,862
or whatever, but it
wasn't like we were having
1326
01:21:06,945 --> 01:21:08,905
some big legacy discussion and,
1327
01:21:08,989 --> 01:21:10,824
"Hey, we got your back.
You can do this."
1328
01:21:10,907 --> 01:21:13,201
It wasn't like that.
1329
01:21:13,285 --> 01:21:17,247
But when Victor went
to space, it changed.
1330
01:21:22,043 --> 01:21:25,046
CHARLIE: We all recognized how
difficult it is to get where
1331
01:21:25,130 --> 01:21:27,841
we have gotten and want to
make sure that you've got
1332
01:21:27,924 --> 01:21:31,052
all the support that you can.
1333
01:21:31,136 --> 01:21:32,804
VICTOR: We have a little
nickname for that group.
1334
01:21:32,888 --> 01:21:34,472
We call them the Afronauts.
1335
01:21:34,556 --> 01:21:36,641
And so, when I was able to,
to have the video conference
1336
01:21:36,725 --> 01:21:39,853
with the Afronauts, the main
thing that I walked away
1337
01:21:39,936 --> 01:21:42,439
from that experience with,
is how important it is
1338
01:21:42,522 --> 01:21:46,359
to have that group and
to be actively connected.
1339
01:21:57,996 --> 01:22:01,291
♪ ♪
1340
01:22:01,374 --> 01:22:03,877
BERNARD: Many years ago,
Ed Dwight called me up and
1341
01:22:03,960 --> 01:22:07,547
told me that he had been
commissioned to do a memorial
1342
01:22:07,631 --> 01:22:12,677
for African-Americans
in Texas, and, uh,
1343
01:22:12,761 --> 01:22:18,934
{\an8}he described the concept from,
you know, slave to space.
1344
01:22:24,940 --> 01:22:27,609
ED: On the Texas Memorial,
there's only one message that
1345
01:22:27,692 --> 01:22:31,488
I'm about, and it has to do
with the valid place that
1346
01:22:31,571 --> 01:22:36,785
African-Americans should have in
this whole American experience,
1347
01:22:36,868 --> 01:22:39,913
because every one of my
memorials has a storyline
1348
01:22:39,996 --> 01:22:43,458
to let people know
that we are people of action
1349
01:22:43,541 --> 01:22:45,794
and when something
has needed to be done,
1350
01:22:45,877 --> 01:22:47,629
whether it's for the
larger community,
1351
01:22:47,712 --> 01:22:51,383
for our own community,
we've been there.
1352
01:22:59,808 --> 01:23:02,894
BERNARD: Ed told me how the
first Blacks arrived in Texas,
1353
01:23:02,978 --> 01:23:06,356
also as explorers of
this new territory,
1354
01:23:06,439 --> 01:23:09,901
how it led to
eventually the future.
1355
01:23:15,031 --> 01:23:17,951
It really represented not
only the development of
1356
01:23:18,034 --> 01:23:21,663
this country, but also
where we're headed.
1357
01:23:29,587 --> 01:23:32,298
CHARLIE: Slavery is a
critically important part of
1358
01:23:32,382 --> 01:23:35,260
the idea of this nation.
1359
01:23:35,343 --> 01:23:38,972
{\an8}It was something that we had
to figure out how to overcome
1360
01:23:39,055 --> 01:23:41,266
if we were really going to
be the kind of nation that
1361
01:23:41,349 --> 01:23:44,227
we think we want to be.
1362
01:23:47,397 --> 01:23:48,857
{\an8}CHAIRMAN: Good morning.
1363
01:23:48,940 --> 01:23:51,484
{\an8}I will start with
Senator Graham.
1364
01:23:51,693 --> 01:23:53,361
GRAHAM: Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.
1365
01:23:53,445 --> 01:23:56,114
The President has nominated
someone extraordinarily
1366
01:23:56,197 --> 01:24:00,285
talented and qualified for
the new NASA administrator.
1367
01:24:00,368 --> 01:24:04,164
We inspire the next generation
of young Americans to think
1368
01:24:04,247 --> 01:24:08,001
big and there is no better
example of what you can do
1369
01:24:08,084 --> 01:24:10,920
in America than what Major
General Bolden has achieved.
1370
01:24:11,004 --> 01:24:14,340
So, with that, I heartily
recommend his nomination.
1371
01:24:16,551 --> 01:24:19,888
ED: Charlie had me at his
Senate hearings, so all of a
1372
01:24:19,971 --> 01:24:23,266
sudden all kind of wonderful
things started happening.
1373
01:24:23,349 --> 01:24:25,226
CHARLIE: I also would like
to take this opportunity to
1374
01:24:25,310 --> 01:24:27,353
acknowledge the very special
person, Mr. Ed Dwight,
1375
01:24:27,437 --> 01:24:30,231
{\an8}who while not actually
becoming an astronaut,
1376
01:24:30,315 --> 01:24:32,567
{\an8}he was a trailblazer in
the attempt to break the
1377
01:24:32,650 --> 01:24:35,612
color barrier in America's
astronaut program.
1378
01:24:35,695 --> 01:24:37,822
(applause)
1379
01:24:37,906 --> 01:24:39,991
ED: Once Charlie Bolden
took the helm,
1380
01:24:40,075 --> 01:24:42,786
NASA finally gave me a tag.
1381
01:24:42,869 --> 01:24:45,830
They called me a pioneer,
and so that's the name
1382
01:24:45,914 --> 01:24:49,918
I'm assigned, a space pioneer.
1383
01:24:50,794 --> 01:24:56,966
♪ ♪
1384
01:24:58,551 --> 01:25:00,512
CHARLIE: And I'm an American
citizen who really believes
1385
01:25:00,595 --> 01:25:02,764
in the idea that
is this country.
1386
01:25:02,847 --> 01:25:05,475
♪ ♪
1387
01:25:05,558 --> 01:25:07,852
CHARLIE: And ideas are
dependent upon people to,
1388
01:25:07,936 --> 01:25:11,397
you know, to execute them
or to carry them out.
1389
01:25:13,900 --> 01:25:17,403
Black history is
American history.
1390
01:25:17,487 --> 01:25:21,032
We forget it at our peril.
1391
01:25:26,663 --> 01:25:32,502
♪ ♪
1392
01:25:39,592 --> 01:25:41,427
ED (over computer): Uh,
Victor, can you hear me?
1393
01:25:41,511 --> 01:25:43,263
VICTOR: I can.
How you doing?
1394
01:25:43,346 --> 01:25:45,348
ED (over computer): I'm trying
to hang in there, buddy.
1395
01:25:45,473 --> 01:25:47,600
ED: So, Victor, where are you?
Are you in Houston?
1396
01:25:47,684 --> 01:25:49,477
VICTOR (over computer):
I'm in Houston. Yes.
1397
01:25:49,561 --> 01:25:51,646
I'm in our Public
Affairs Building.
1398
01:25:51,729 --> 01:25:52,856
ED (over computer): Oh, gotcha.
1399
01:25:52,939 --> 01:25:54,399
VICTOR: But I'm
happy to do this today.
1400
01:25:54,482 --> 01:25:56,359
This is like, this
is an honor, yeah.
1401
01:25:56,442 --> 01:25:57,610
ED (over computer): Yeah.
1402
01:25:57,694 --> 01:25:59,612
VICTOR: All right, Mr. Dwight,
are you ready?
1403
01:25:59,696 --> 01:26:01,614
ED: I am ready.
1404
01:26:01,739 --> 01:26:03,199
MAN (over radio): Station,
this is Houston.
1405
01:26:03,283 --> 01:26:04,284
Are you ready for the event?
1406
01:26:04,367 --> 01:26:07,328
JESSICA: Station is
ready for the event.
1407
01:26:07,537 --> 01:26:09,080
VICTOR: Station, this is Ike.
1408
01:26:09,164 --> 01:26:11,875
Watty, can you hear me?
1409
01:26:11,958 --> 01:26:14,377
{\an8}JESSICA: I've got you
loud and clear, Ike.
1410
01:26:14,460 --> 01:26:15,420
{\an8}How me?
1411
01:26:15,503 --> 01:26:17,922
{\an8}VICTOR: Awesome.
I have you loud and clear.
1412
01:26:18,006 --> 01:26:19,174
{\an8}It's great to talk to you.
1413
01:26:19,257 --> 01:26:22,343
And so, Jessica Watkins, I
would love to introduce to you
1414
01:26:22,427 --> 01:26:25,221
my good friend and
mentor, Ed Dwight.
1415
01:26:25,305 --> 01:26:27,390
Ed, please say, hi, to,
1416
01:26:27,473 --> 01:26:29,559
to Jessica or as
we call her, Watty.
1417
01:26:29,642 --> 01:26:31,978
ED: Oh, well, hello, Jessica.
1418
01:26:32,061 --> 01:26:37,025
This is so exciting to me to
see because back in the day,
1419
01:26:37,108 --> 01:26:39,777
uh, they, they were saying
that Blacks are too ignorant
1420
01:26:39,861 --> 01:26:42,405
to be flying in space to, uh,
1421
01:26:42,488 --> 01:26:44,574
to hold these
important positions.
1422
01:26:44,657 --> 01:26:47,327
And I'm smitten, uh, by,
uh, by the fact that
1423
01:26:47,410 --> 01:26:49,746
you're up there doing all
these wonderful things.
1424
01:26:49,829 --> 01:26:51,497
JESSICA: It is an
honor to meet you.
1425
01:26:51,581 --> 01:26:55,043
We are just so grateful for
the path that you laid
1426
01:26:55,126 --> 01:26:56,920
for us to follow behind,
1427
01:26:57,003 --> 01:26:59,172
so thank you so much for
everything you've done.
1428
01:26:59,255 --> 01:27:03,468
ED: Oh my God, thanks
for remembering me.
1429
01:27:03,760 --> 01:27:08,056
(laughing)
1430
01:27:08,973 --> 01:27:15,480
♪ ♪
1431
01:27:21,236 --> 01:27:27,242
(music plays through credits)
1432
01:30:25,211 --> 01:30:27,213
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.