I Was Poised to be the First Black Astronaut. I Never Made it to Space. | 'Almost Famous' by Op-Docs

This is the story of Ed Dwight Jr., who was invited by his country to train to be the first African-American astronaut. Back in 1963, it was hot news. But the United States never sent Dwight to space. For decades, he has maintained that he was discriminated against during his time at the Aerospace Research Pilot School, a prerequisite to NASA run by the legendary pilot Chuck Yeager.
Dwight is now a prolific artist, building memorials and creating public art honoring African-American history. His footprints cannot be found on the moon. But his fingerprints can be found on sculptures across the country.
“Almost Famous” is a special Op-Docs series of short films directed by Ben Proudfoot featuring people who nearly made history - only to fall short. These are tales of overcoming disappointment at its most epic, from an astronaut who never flew to a superstar who never was.
See more from the "Almost Famous" series: nyti.ms/36STJx3
Credits
Director: Ben Proudfoot
Featuring: Edward Dwight Jr.
Producers: Gabriel Berk Godoi, Abby Lynn Kang Davis
Co-Producer: Jeremy Lambert
Cinematography: Brandon Somerhalder
Editor: Nick Garnham Wright
Composer: Nicholas Jacobson-Larson
Assistant Editor: Lisset Mendoza
First Assistant Cameras: Jana McLain, Joey Schusler
Colorist: Stephen Derluguian
Re-Recording Mixer: Sean Higgins
Archival Coordinator: Sarah Stewart
On-Set Digital Archivist: Tyler Somerhalder
Associate Producers: Jaimie Woo, Caley Fox Shannon
Post-Production Supervisor: Dillon Brown
Post-Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Brooke
Supervising Editor: Federico Conforti
Sound Effects Editor: Tom Boykin
Additional Orchestration: Roger Julià Satorra
Scoring Mixer: Brad Haehnel
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Op-Docs is the New York Times’ award-winning series of short documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NYTopinion).

[@benproudfoot1409]

Hey, everybody. I’m Ben, the filmmaker and creator of the ALMOST FAMOUS series. Happy to answer any questions!

[@benproudfoot1409]

@@jimoberg3326 Thanks Jim. I don’t think that comment conflicts with what Ed says in the film. Ed asserts here that he was told Chuck compelled students and instructors to socially isolate Ed to pressure him to quit, presumably because he resented the Kennedy administration’s involvement in what he perceived as his domain. Of course, Ed never quit.

[@jimoberg3326]

@@benproudfoot1409 -- Funny thing is, all we have is a third-hand hearsay, sole source and uncorroborated, while Dwight himself later said some students kissed up to him trying to piggy-back on his White House influence. Nobody's found a single other witness in half a century.

[@benproudfoot1409]

@@jimoberg3326 All I can say is that this film was thoroughly vetted and fact-checked by the Times and Breakwater Studios and we are comfortable that Ed’s testimony, which he himself grants is hearsay, passes muster. As for my personal view, I think expending concerted energy, as you have Jim, attempting to discredit alleged bigotry in the 1960s is a highly questionable use of one’s time.

[@jimoberg3326]

@@benproudfoot1409 == " presumably because he resented the Kennedy administration’s involvement in what he perceived as his domain" == No need to presume, I thought he spelled it out clearly, he felt Dwight didn't measure up to established criteria and was being given a pass for political propaganda motives. Influence-pedaling in promotions and assignments was not unheard of, and was culturally anathema to operational commanders who considered it physically dangerous in high-hazard duties. Speaking of not measuring up, was the issue of Dwight's height ever of interest, him being three inches shorter than the minimum design pilot height for the Apollo Lunar Module?

[@jimoberg3326]

@@benproudfoot1409 - " attempting to discredit alleged bigotry in the 1960s is a highly questionable use of one’s time." == Thanks for the advice, perhaps my goal wasn't clear. As a respected spaceflight historian [and expert source for the NY Times for decades], I have been trying to 'CREDIT' -- to verify -- the very serious charge against Yeager about ordering other students to shun Dwight as a means of inducing him to quit. I've talked to other members of that test pilot class, to other AF veterans, to astronauts of that era -- NONE recall such a command being given, or being followed. If all that's left is third-hand uncorroborated hearsay that is discordant with every other source from that period, then what?

[@Ananse15]

This man is almost 90 and looks like he’s in his 60s wow

[@soldado23]

He is 86 yrs old and the way he is responding and his physical condition is crazy how good he looks at that age.

[@MatthewSmith-du5dy]

Black don’t crack , just don’t do crack.

[@sew04ss]

soldado23 86 is almost 90

[@bryane727]

@G He said "but don't do crack". Crack would make anyone look old af

[@smokeylebear1062]

Matthew Smith that’s not even it dawg some people just have a good lifestyle

[@reggiefurlow1]

Can't even fathom the open racism this man faced

[@jimoberg3326]

-- How about you verify it, first? So where is there ANY first or second had witnesses to the alleged nasty comment from Yeager? There's one half-century old THIRD-hand account from a guy with a justifiable grudge, plus Yeager's denial [and endorsement of his color-blindness from black pilots who actually flew with him] plus the record of no actual personal actions of that suggested type ever happening.

[@JohnDoe-ky6wz]

Exactly what's been happening to me for the last 30 years. Racism and discrimination.

[@jimoberg3326]

@@JohnDoe-ky6wz -- I can't dispute that, or the experience-based instinct to generalize. There were plenty of authentic horrifying realities of racist hate and violence then, and later. The record also shows NASA was on the side of the angels on all levels of confrontation, so these accusations aren't just inaccurate, they're irresponsible. imho.

[@The1TheyCallFoo313]

@@jimoberg3326 yet, you don't question the white guy's statement the same way do you? During the civil rights era at that. Keep denying racism, and copy and paste your weak comment.

[@rozs9919]

I can...

[@jasmineartis5754]

He saw a PICTURE of a black man a person he never spoke to and that changed the course of his life THATS why representation matters.

[@CorettaJG]

THIS.

[@jasmineartis5754]

Brett Kavanaugh so because you don’t need representation everyone else doesn’t? So because you said so it’s the truth? LOL Whew you are stupid. I doubt you are even black. You are disrespecting a black man in your picture and you made a mistake you aren’t suppose to look up to black WOMEN you are suppose to look up to black men.

[@Libturd]

@Brett Kavanaugh so i guess Obama becoming a president was never an inspiration for any black men OR women. Gtfo

[@zekebanister865]

President Trump has done more for black people than Obama did you know that? NOPE you didn't

[@Libturd]

@@zekebanister865 Did i say anything about who has done for more for any racial group? Did u even read the OP? Im talking about representation. Is Trump black? Does he REPRESENT black people? Wtf are you talking about !?!?!

[@G3Oization]

His footprints cannot be found on the moon. But his fingerprints can be found on sculptures across the country.

[@zandg6477]

Very beautifully put

[@armageddon4831]

there are ZERO footprints on the moon because no feet have ever touched it.

[@G3Oization]

Johhny Truth yu don't get the point.

[@madyjules]

among the most beautiful & profound words I’ve ever had the pleasure to read thank you

[@barbram8001]

Kenny Bis, no one's foot prints, can be found on the moon. I, don't believe the propaganda.

[@leod1510]

He did ALLL that even did it correctly and still got denied. The US government needs to honor this man.

[@Demthorshie]

@S C This is why I can't with all the respectability politics that black people face today. Black Americans were systematically oppressed, denied opportunity, lynched and brutalized all while wearing nice clean suits and being proper and productive citizens. How does society expect for a people to behave in the face of 100s of years of slavery, inhumane pain and oppression?

[@AAAA-zj9yl]

Blacks. Lol

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

Leo D He did his job. The USA, aka nasa, relies on Russia (other white males, whom are “sworn enemies”) to get to space-today.

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

S C And blame it for defending itself from being poked! Sick demented game strategy whites play. And no, Jesus did NOT okay this behavior!

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

Leo D I’m going to look at it this way, He was accepted into the USAF and chosen for astronaut 👩🏾‍🚀 training! Both honors! Whether or not he specifically got into space is not the goal, did his efforts help in someone on the team get into space? The answer is Yes! Thanks to all the “white” men and women who helped/assisted!

[@Libturd]

"You can teach your brain to help you, or you can teach your brain to destroy you" No truer words were said

[@robindauphinais9735]

That needs to be in schools all over this country!! So inspiring.

[@Cludensyo]

A great quote that can be applied to a lot of things

[@alimo2000]

💯

[@wallysmithii117]

👍

[@bryanlanda]

Man I wish I could learn that... my anxiety just gets me sometimes...

[@Choxchip63]

Make a movie about him...just like hidden figures his story needs to be told!!!

[@larrybuchanan7161]

After he is dead they 'might'.

[@sa5m225]

@@larrybuchanan7161 and used to wrong information

[@larrybuchanan7161]

@@sa5m225 Okay what wrong information did I use. If I am wrong I humbly stand corrected.

[@gladitsnotme]

The white executives in Hollywood only want to make movies about white people in medieval times 10,000 times a year.

[@bnwo]

and his doesn't need to be faked.

[@vishnu8696]

60 years later. He still can't get over it. It broke my heart when he started to cry😢😢

[@janyahtriea5569]

I wouldn't either 😟😟

[@noonespecial4171]

Because it very nearly ended his life. He chose to use the pain and create beauty. This man is a Phoenix, Kali Ma in reality.

[@skip70]

A real Man

[@ricobhi]

This all happened 50 years ago, and you can see that Mr. Dwight still feels this pain as strongly as if it all happened just yesterday. He made me feel his pain. I'm grateful for him telling his story. And as a Black man, I'm grateful for the legacy that he has created through his memorials.

[@colh.3779]

Though I hardly feel qualified to comment on this, I am so glad Dwights story is being told too. He is obviously a great man who has done great things, and it is a shame and a disservice that racism held him back from achieving even more. Though people like David McDonald^^ prove we still have a ways to go, I'm proud we have come as far as we have. :)

[@EmmanuelTurner245225]

@David McDonald Bro, STFU. You can't possibly be this obtuse.

[@colh.3779]

@David McDonald lmao I am super white, and your argument is invalid. Not all white people are "my people" and I think the fact that you assumed that says a lot about you

[@boochthequeen]

Haus of RicoBHI 💖💗💖

[@michaeljoseph741]

@David McDonald Maybe you should look at Hidden Figures.

[@mrcalvinwalker1]

I’m just not prepared for how fiercely you’re hitting me with these amazing episodes so suddenly. 😭

[@sunnylilme]

Black eyed peas, lady beatles..they're awesome!

[@vell5052]

Thursday's Journal that’s what I’m saying

[@jessshrop4607]

Exactly! I’m going to have my boys watch one per day......especially this one

[@B3damn]

So refreshing too!!

[@namanshah8354]

Yeaaaaaahhhh

[@zeropoint703]

In our world, Ed Dwight never went to the moon. Instead, he creates monuments. In our world, Ed Dwight preserves the past.

[@SirPickleBottom]

Is that a mm refference?

[@zeropoint703]

@@SirPickleBottom completely forgot i made this comment yeah lmao

[@slimgrim3607]

​@@zeropoint703 to be fair I wouldn't have discovered ed Dwight or James dean if not for MM and NV

[@user-nc2bf9vx5y]

Yes.

[@aimmortalslegacy2189]

It's funny how his father tried teaching him the reality of racism and the world that he lived in, and his mother taught him to overcome that reality. The truth is so bitter sweet, because they both were right.. and they both were wrong.. nonetheless he was able to inspire others with what his parents taught him, through memorial of those who encountered some of the same challenges.

[@Andrei-ld3gw]

That is some wise philosophical word my friend

[@purplebug21]

beautiful comment

[@stephdrake2521]

His father was right .... he wasn’t wrong and all black parents should teach their children about racism. This is not to hate or dislike whites but to let them know the skills of survival. You have to call a thing a thing .. that’s the beginning of knowledge.

[@davanmani556]

I think it was one of those things that the father wanted him to standout by insisting on him being an engineer from his peers but not too much. But to Mr. Dwight if he was going to standout, he is going all the way because If I come down one iota, he might as well come down to his high school peers.

[@Yamagatabr]

His mother didn't teached him to Ignore it. She teched Him to be resilient and Overcome this. That's wahat he did.

[@stinebot33]

This man was robbed

[@itsokaytobeclownpilled5937]

stinebot33 LOL 😂

[@zekebanister865]

of what?

[@tonylancer7367]

@@zekebanister865 Check the title of the video.

[@zekebanister865]

Tony yes thank you I saw that....You are spot on and very sharp...

[@tonylancer7367]

@@zekebanister865 More round than sharp.

[@julesindigoblue4441]

This man survived such horrific discrimination! It’s unfathomable to me that such a beautiful mind had to endure such hatred....if anyone has the strength to become an astronaut, it’s him. What an amazing person. If they can send a teacher to space, why not take him next time?

[@vusimthalane9299]

Sadly we still get treated the same way by white people to this day.

[@imhuemankeepURcolorsforcrayons]

Jules IndigoBlue Still liked your comment though!!

[@zakiry8634]

@@vusimthalane9299 not at all, it's really has improved massively, we are all lucky for thay

[@zakiry8634]

"survived"

[@TheCol111]

>horrific discrimination bruh apartheid south Africa existed at the same time y'know

[@444truthteller]

Lord when he started crying...wasn't prepared for that not one bit.

[@caylamorris5097]

It made me cry for him...painful to watch and hear it. You will never be forgotten for what you did and endured.

[@YurrahAlHadi]

Me too, just got all teary eyed. And for them to sit there and say he was never a candidate when he CLEARLY was.

[@feliciastreet11]

It got me too ! But now we know his truth. God give this man more peace and let his story that was tucked away be told. Wow

[@joywolf83]

My heart broke

[@hpeace5916]

It hurts to think about how much the world would be better now if the opportunities hadn't taken away from so many amazing African Americans.

[@gostavoadolfos2023]

It would help the USA but not the whole world.

[@StrawberryFeildsforNever]

@@gostavoadolfos2023 that’s so funny that you think that

[@filmladyproduction]

Yep!

[@brodyharris7631]

OpDocs is criminally underrated. They are all so well put together. I feel privileged to know about them. Thank you for posting

[@strongbetsmma]

Very well put.

[@Kinobambino]

Just found out today.

[@eddysandland58]

I think I've watched 6 in a row?! All of the highest Quality!!

[@yoheimito9172]

I'm slowly starting to love this *Almost Famous* series

[@laboy14]

Yohei Mito it’s amazing this series came out of nowhere! I’m loving it

[@medici__]

@@laboy14 me too!

[@megha5176]

@@laboy14 Same

[@salrusso1233]

He's not black

[@withapinchofsteph8044]

slowly?! im late and binge watching lol

[@camillac8101]

it actually hurts to see all the opportunities that have been taken away from African Americans simply because of the color of their skin... this man deserves to be honored by the government

[@budasgal]

It’s AF fighter pilots like you, sir, who paved the way for other minority AF pilots like my husband. Maybe you didn’t make it to space but you made a difference! Thank you!

[@primovid]

So sweet...thank you

[@HowardBaileyMusic]

Absolutely! No shortage of success in his story.

[@agriswold2009]

This saddens me so.... but he’s strength ... is admirable .

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

April G How Un-Christ-Like American heroes (church Yeager) were/are? Racism is the seed that grew weeds in the minds of America’s “great men”. Racists are NOT American heroes, they are terrorists; especially while wearing blue!!!

[@ascend3654]

why? he avoided becoming a scammer like buzz and neil

[@doposud]

yes it is sad that his dream did not came true becose of racism ,but if he would flight in the space there could be no memorial instead 129 memorials and 18 000 gallery pieces this is how you get famous for something you didn't do ? :) life have sense for irony sometimes but we can remember him as a person who showed us and helped us to remember more honorable people and if i understand correctly he was a pilot a dreamjob for many people

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

Bat Interesting point of view; you believe humans never went to space, nor the moon.

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

David McDonald Hopefully this is not a numbers game. I’m learning blacks are racist, perhaps learned from the master. Truly wish, America did not authorize human slavery and this would be a non issue. But it did, and it is.

[@harryjang3408]

Send this man to space. Let him live his dreams before it's too late.

[@bigmoneyc9395]

Harry Jang right! NASA needs to make that happen

[@chinzeeyuen1628]

I thought about this too but can his body handle it?

[@shychick96]

@@bigmoneyc9395 right they owe it to him.

[@__-go9cj]

that sounds beautiful and all... but im afraid he'll die.

[@JonYugen]

It already is too late, he is way above the age

[@busyrand]

This man reminds me of my father who also served in the Air Force around the same time. My dad was a genius and ultimately ended up having his brilliance exploited as an elite chemist constantly denied opportunities in lieu of people he'd have to train. His depression was severe, and I felt the brunt of it daily. He ultimately died earlier than he should from years of neglect and heartbreak from dealing with a truncated life due to racial dynamics. The horrible truth is there is always a reason why it's not your turn when you are Black and elite in your field. I've had to switch career paths multiple times due to this. It has affected my life to the tune of millions of dollars of denied opportunities. This man's future was stolen from him.

[@PepinsSpot]

The sound of broken dreams. How come I never heard this story? How come no one talks about it?

[@Alvan81]

The bogus idea that Blacks and other minorities are not part of the HEROIC fabric of America serves a purpose. It gives strength and comfort to the crowd who try to say we are merely thugs and welfare recipients.

[@MerveilleK]

because he's black. thats why

[@tthompson1]

@@Alvan81 Couldn't of said it better myself!!

[@TARAJOSU]

It's great that it is getting out now, at least.

[@prophetcitrus9638]

Because the time period his story took place was already filled by so much controversy and moments that made history that his personal story was buried under it all, the contributions blacks have made in the 60s are only recently being publicized as people come across their stories in documents and evidence of these events.

[@lisathomas3082]

They couldn't make him quit, so they just denied him the spot he earned!✊

[@megha5176]

Truth 👏

[@BrianKabonyo]

@@CatOMattic Lol Maybe watch & understand the video first before coming up with juvenile rebuttals.

[@ottobong]

Brian Kabonyo Yep everything has always been fair in the great USA! You nailed it buddy! Now go back and crawl under the hole you came from

[@royalwalnutbroth5664]

i immeadiately looked up his name right after finishing Monument Mythos. I'm really glad i got to know him more

[@Kiskeya]

New favorite quote : "You can teach your brain to help you. You can teach your brain to destroy you. Your brain only answers to what it's being told". Ed Dwight Jr.

[@jeanloverture4306]

So true!!

[@a.r.c8021]

Through his sculptures, this man was able to attain more immortality than any astronaut out there. What a wonderful human. Inspiring!

[@movimientolatinodjquirozca4342]

Yes but when you have a passion and you see your self so close to your target...but unable to touch😢

[@a.r.c8021]

Movimiento latino dj Quiroz I know... so sad ... but instead of giving up and letting the world break him he takes his passion and talents elsewhere!

[@SheTrulyDesiresME]

Besides, space is boring ! Nothing there, for thousands of miles.

[@brothergigawatt2116]

i just sent him something, to wake him up, i hope he follows it, TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

[@29doll29]

yes

[@Shinyflubba]

All that work and effort he put in and he was denied cause of racism. And the comments below want to look past that, smh

[@jimoberg3326]

" he was denied cause of racism. " == So where is there ANY first or second had witnesses to the alleged nasty comment from Yeager? There's one half-century old THIRD-hand account from a guy with a justifiable grudge, plus Yeager's denial [and endorsement of his color-blindness from black pilots who actually flew with him] plus the record of no actual personal actions of that suggested type ever happening.

[@goalmind8753]

Welcome to the world love

[@jimoberg3326]

@Pill Cosby -- No, I seriously want an answer. And all I've gotten so far are dodges and evasions, like yours.

[@jimoberg3326]

@@JR-xi2md -- Good advice for all of us, there are too many temptations around us trying to lure us into that doom. Now, how can we find any real witnesses to the alleged Yeager comment, that could well have reached Dwight's ears in highly garbled form, considering how many tongues it had to pass through to get to him?

[@gail235]

I applaud you captain. You’re still great! Everything in this life is temporal anyway, but your character, your honor and integrity lives forever! Thank you for your service.👍❤️

[@honjokun0615]

You're a space hero in your own right, Capt. Dwight. Even though you were not in the final selection, you paved the way for so many African Americans and other POCs to follow and be inspired. As an Asian, I envy the black community for having a strong role model like you. Respect.

[@user-nc2bf9vx5y]

And I agree 100%.

[@buddhavibes24]

He better get recognised now and invited to NASA - hope he is remembered and engrained into history

[@jimoberg3326]

So if NASA didn't pick him as an astronaut in 1963, they did him wrong? I can understand his disappointment, but why blame NASA?

[@o-wolf]

I heard bezos was trying to get him into space on his new shepherd.. that'd be momentus if he could still pass the physical 🤞🏾🕶️

[@spectoestis3106]

best i can do is a small analog horror series

[@GolemProAnimations]

OpDocs are killing it with all these beautifully directed films man. Massive props to them.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

🙏 He's still an American hero.👏👏✌🏼🥰💕😪

[@AAAA-zj9yl]

Uhm ok?

[@lanxy2398]

CatOMattic 5000 shut up Pepe pfp

[@secundus6457]

The first (1980) black man in space was Cuban Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, a member of the Soviet crew of Soyuz. He is a hero.

[@RaethePhoenix]

He was so handsome back in the day. 😭😍 Such a strong man. Beautiful family too! 😭

[@mechekorrect1442]

What happens to a dream deferred. America is a basket of sin for how many Black lives and dreams it crushed with the boot of racism. Still we rise! We are marvelous.

[@stephdrake2521]

Yes, we are exceptional people.

[@LisaEverette]

This comment gave me goosebumps.

[@mechekorrect1442]

@@LisaEverette you know it sis!

[@mechekorrect1442]

@@stephdrake2521 You ain't lying

[@stellafantasia9]

An engineer, soldier, artist.. this man is amazing! ❤️

[@Graymenn]

there was once a very famous austrian who was a soldier and an artist.... you might know of him

[@medici__]

@@Graymenn Hitler...?

[@psi9899]

@@Graymenn Not a very good artist lol

[@Graymenn]

@@psi9899 he was not bad at drawing scenery, have you ever seen his work? I'd say it is at least twice as good as much of the stuff that passes for art these days.... you know, like bananas taped to the wall selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars..... but hey are is subjective right?

[@psi9899]

@@Graymenn It got him rejected out of art school, so not very good, evidently

[@TL-yc1nl]

My 6 year old son has shed tears over MR Edward. He absolutely loves space and watches Nasa Tv as a hobby. He is focused on his dream of being an astronaut. He says one day, he will do it for MR. Edward. 💌

[@moshimishi27]

This comment ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marklion315]

Just for the record, there have been black astronauts.

[@TL-yc1nl]

@@marklion315 thank you for your unsolicited attempt to educate us on a fact that we are already aware of😲😵Sir, we do read... but again, he at 6, knows what it means to 'make the ancestors proud'

[@TL-yc1nl]

@@CatOMattic God be with you love.

[@stylecompassmedia]

I felt these words. Thank you, six year old boy... 🙏🏾💜

[@KaritKtana]

I'm glad he got to be an artist like he wanted to as a child. Always finding ways to give something to the world. It just sucks that the government would pretend to give him this opportunity, when I'm pretty sure he was never going to be picked 😞

[@jalensera]

I’m so proud of this man and everything he’s accomplished. We can all learn something from his resilience

[@highflyer252]

THESE MINI DOCS ARE SO GOOD. THEY POPPED OUT OF NOWHERE

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

Dang that was a excellent story that i had never heard before. Thats the most powerful man on the planet to turn the cheek and contribute a even more powerful statement to this world. Simply extraordinary.

[@JurijFedorov]

He was born in 1933? The guy sounds like he is 40. This is amazing.

[@walterprince8462]

This pioneer lived in Denver and the community as a whole knows nothing about him his wife was a principal in the School system for years just an educator

[@jang3412]

He was such a handsome young man with a wonderful character. His mother did a lot for him, but he had a lot of strength inside as well.

[@mjs6157]

I was a child in the 60's. My father was a career military man.We were a military family, Mr Dwight was always our hero and will always will be a hero to me.

[@ChainsGoldMask]

The irony of a man that should have been memorialized, memorializing those that should. Great story.

[@funkymonkey65]

I can only imagine the effect it would have had on black representation and culture etc, and how it could have eased tensions at that time if they sent this amazing man, what a great story

[@strawberrypez2938]

These "Almost Famous" op-docs are *INCREDIBLE* I like them even more I think from the other op-docs. The director is incredible, story writing---incredible, the capture of the emotions and scenery, incredible. Such an inspiration...keep on keeping on with these please!

[@veritasexperience7765]

What a strong man. Bless his soul

[@mariajappinen3931]

He served as a true positive inspiration and there is no doubt in that. Also, what a remarkable artist! Thank you so much for sharing his remarkable story with the world.

[@jimoberg3326]

Agreed!

[@nurulhaziqah8468]

When he broke down, i wish i can comfort him. Salute for being so strong.

[@357mview2]

I only watched two episodes, The Black eyed peas girl and this Man are amazing, even when they didn’t make it, I knowledge them as one of the greatest humans that I ever know.

[@arraiacc]

This hit hard.

[@PaperMario64]

Marque Markofthebeast oh shut up. You have the right name.

[@zekebanister865]

87 are you going to be okay or should we call someone?

[@dominicesposito1474]

Surprised anybody disliked this video. The story was incredible

[@jimoberg3326]

The story needs verification. Dwight's presence in the test pilot school was an inspiration for many black pilots to follow his lead, and one of them, Charles Bolden, became NASA Director after serving as an astronaut. Dwight's own studies at the test pilot school in 1963 were hampered mostly by the White House demand he take three-day-weekends off traveling the country on lecture tours, which he admits was a significant distraction from his studies. He never disputed that his class standing suffered from that distraction. As for the claimed comment by Yeager, Dwight says he heard it from a fellow student who said he heard it from an instructor who said he heard it from Yeager [who denies making it] -- the kind of multi-hand hearsay that would never be allowed in court or in a principled newspaper], nobody seems to have found any first or second hand witnesses, and Dwight went on to graduate with his classmates before getting a major test pilot leadership command in his original military branch. He set a sky-high standard that motivated many follow-on black pilots to strive to excel and surpass, so we're all grateful for his service and his post-service cultural contributions.

[@imblue9839]

It was Jim Oberg and his side accounts, racists gonna be racists and claim to be rationally debating... Do they think anyone buys into it?

[@jimoberg3326]

@@imblue9839 -- If you can't supply the name of a real witness to Yeager's alleged comment, just admit it, don't cover your inability to do so with personal attacks of your own. It might really undermine your credibility among readers.

[@secundus6457]

People don't like american lie. The first (1980) black man in space was Cuban Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, a member of the Soviet crew of Soyuz.

[@QUARTERMASTEREMI6]

_"You can teach your brain to help you, or you can teach your brain to destroy you. And your brain will react to what it's been told."_ -Ed Dwight, Jr.

[@walwin]

It's things like this that I think about when y'all say 'Make America Great Again'. Is this the time that you're looking to go back to?

[@MzShonuff123]

Yes-that’s literally what they want. And if you’re paying attention, it’s working

[@shanteallove673]

You are a hero! A movie should be written about you

[@l.j6442]

He does need his own movie, if you agree. Let's see Tyler Perry...

[@MrCAHRLIE22]

@@l.j6442 tyler perry is busy making movies of you know who...

[@ghetuyi]

This needs to be a movie.

[@annahsmith913]

Yea

[@marcusdutra7091]

Ed Dwight changed his fate from almost being a "public institution's creation" into an art creator. This guy is the materialization of true divine power in person. What an inspiring story!

[@ninakoch1799]

i‘ve rarely seen a man this smart, talented, well-spoken, kind and most of all, strong. absolutely amazing! he was robbed of his dream, yet he is a hero and i wish more people would know about his story.

[@yoheimito9172]

First watched the Almost Famous by Kim Hill and now i'm binge watching almost all of the docu made by Op Docs 😂

[@nookie3606]

same lol

[@jow265]

Yohei Mito me too!!! So good.

[@mimiwilliams8918]

Same!!!

[@denisereadstarot]

Amazing words “you can teach your brain to help you or you can teach your brain to destroy you. “

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

Great words indeed...

[@Seeattle]

And he still used his story to make a way for his art. Amazing.

[@analoggurl62]

Thank YOU for your service to this country Mr. DWIGHT. Thank you for your phenominal story. Thank you for your legacy and the beautiful historical figures. God Bless you🕊

[@marys3738]

This brought tears to my eyes. It brought me back to my years in college studying engineering and all the open racism I faced. It was coming from professors and classmates a like. Long story short...I got my degree but was never able to use it.

[@CarsaPirieScott]

Mary S Sorry to hear that. What year did you graduate?

[@marys3738]

@@CarsaPirieScott Thank you Carson. I graduated in 2012

[@ahghustl330]

Mary S y didn’t u use it?

[@madyjules]

Mary I am so sorry

[@feliciastreet11]

I see it daily as a clinical nurse specialist. I just float around it and do great things. It still stings for a moment thou.

[@DorothyZbornak4]

There is almost 1 slave movie released a year yet we dont know about this. Blacks were something before and after slavery. This is a story worth telling because our history is so unique and at time hard to watch. I will keep looking for videos like this that were not widely known.

[@jessykapop]

When I saw hidden figures I craved for more of those stories. This man’s story needs to be a movie!!!

[@DorothyZbornak4]

@@DeliciouslyMild Hollywood has no problem keeping us as slaves. Some blacks will go to the defense that it's educational but never focus on any other part of history. Time to leave slave movies alone.

[@DorothyZbornak4]

@@carolholmes9421 I know that we were but, those are the only stories that Hollywood loves to tell and not anything else. Slavery was not the only time period we existed in.

[@DorothyZbornak4]

@@carolholmes9421 thanks for your additional comment as well🤗

[@SpoobSnack]

I can't stop tearing up over his hard work and dedication and it was all taken away. His memorials are so beautiful and amazing.

[@zeren4422]

Watching this man hold back his tears.... it made me feel like i felt all of his pain...but i probably only felt just .0001 percent of what he had to endure. Thank you for this video.

[@dootsmom]

You are a hero Mr. Dwight. Thank you for your service.

[@eye4aneye760]

This guy is an absolute WARRIOR. His intellect, his fierce determination, and his steadfastness in the face of soul crushing discrimination are wholly indicative of not only his personal strength, but the collective strength and resilience that African Americans have displayed in this country from day one.

[@eye4aneye760]

David McDonald first of all, how is this comment relevant to this man’s story or to my comment? Second of all, that is a gross misrepresentation of white contributions to the world. You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

[@eye4aneye760]

CatOMattic 5000 Your willingness to use criminality as a way of belittling the overall contributions African Americans have made to modern American society makes me think that you’re a little bit racist there, buddy.

[@railleyandrewdeguzman196]

Im recording now. Tell me everything. Im recording now. Tell me everything IM RECORDING NOW. TELL ME EVERYTHING

[@MzShonuff123]

Ultimately he became what he *originally* wanted to be and that made me cry.

[@renatateofilo9887]

😭 Oh that was so sad. Racism is vicious. How can people treat others like that?😭😭😭

[@jimoberg3326]

Dwight's presence in the test pilot school was an inspiration for many black pilots to follow his lead, and one of them, Charles Bolden, became NASA Director after serving as an astronaut. Dwight's own studies at the test pilot school in 1963 were hampered mostly by the White House demand he take three-day-weekends off traveling the country on lecture tours, which he admits was a significant distraction from his studies. He never disputed that his class standing suffered from that distraction. As for the claimed comment by Yeager, Dwight says he heard it from a fellow student who said he heard it from an instructor who said he heard it from Yeager [who denies making it] -- the kind of multi-hand hearsay that would never be allowed in court or in a principled newspaper], nobody seems to have found any first or second hand witnesses, and Dwight went on to graduate with his classmates before getting a major test pilot leadership command in his original military branch. He set a sky-high standard that motivated many follow-on black pilots to strive to excel and surpass, so we're all grateful for his service and his post-service cultural contributions.

[@jimoberg3326]

@Dominic Thian - He described the weekend travels in the PBS 'Chasing the Moon' program last summer. Also, the deeply-flawed NY Times story on him last July had more quotes from him. I also FOIA'ed his USAF assignments records, ask me more at [e-mail]

[@myimperfectdiary890]

renata teofilo America is build on oppression

[@l01j99]

When he started to cry because he remembered the pain he felt after he went through all of that intense training. Then be publicly cut from the program for being black. It only strengthens the fact that reparations for Black people in America is fair.

[@varnikachandrasekara1478]

This man needs a movie made about him. Legendary story!

[@ClarkSarita200]

“You can teach your brain to help you, or you can teach your brain to destroy you”...That spoke to my soul

[@jasonhollingsworth2710]

I was in tears by the end. What a story! All men ARE created equal.

[@CraftWon]

What a coincidence. Just the other day I was in a customer house in Scottsdale AZ and I saw a unique sculpture of a jazz flute player. Just face, flute and hands. I told the customer the artwork was kool. He explained this gentleman to me. And the artwork was 1 of 10 pieces as opposed to the 100 pieces he usually sculpts/molds. Only 10 of that piece because of a fire at the sculpting studio. And now this pops up in my feed.

[@macywacy7384]

Ed Dwight Jr you truly are a hero in my eyes! You set the pace for those that followed. I'm proud of you!

[@daedaetinez6406]

Thank you Ed wife for your service to this country and I’m sorry about the miss fortune that took place but your words are so inspiring and I really wanna adopt a saying that” you said you can teach your brain to help you or you can teach your brain to destroy you your brain will react to what you’ve been told!!” Amazing!

[@ashleydado]

I wanna see a Hollywood movie about Captain Ed Dwight.

[@mooremarriott2841]

sichengs Jackie Chan would be awesome in that role

[@braesidebikes4344]

@@mooremarriott2841 black people aren't cast as chinese heroes in race-relevant docs, so not sure why it would go the other way around for this

[@acadia5898]

the last shot was haunting. song echoing in the background, the memorials just sitting there in his studio, him walking around watching them after an intense story. insane!

[@Blossom1232]

Dang as soon as Kennedy died, they just snatched his dream away!!

[@Carl_rome_]

The sad part is that, even nowadays; people wait until great legends like him move on just to remember them. Honor him while he is with us.

[@jimoberg3326]

Press reports won't tell you the full story, including potential non-racial reasons why NASA chose other pilots. But his presence in the two USAF test pilot schools in 1962-3 inspired a wave of follow-on fully-qualified black pilots such as Robert Lawrence, picked for USAF astronaut status in 1967, and others who became shuttle astronauts. Some died alongside their white colleagues on fatal missions [their names deserve special honor, too], and one became NASA Administrator who always honored Dwight for being his initial inspiration. We got where we are today because of pioneers such as Dwight, who deserve all the honor they earned.

[@lydia4349]

He is honestly so amazing and so strong and a real Hero! Bless him

[@bahardan8544]

And he’s a great artist too 😦 I think this man has lived the life to the fullest, he must make his own memorial 👌🏻

[@dlwdlw2962]

In my eyes he will always be an astronaut and a American hero.

[@bubblybubbles4023]

I love what he said about his mom. It's important to give a child hope because if you make them believe they can't have things and there's limits it can break their hearts and they'll never even try.

[@strongbetsmma]

"You can teach your brain to help you or you can teach your brain to destroy you." I felt that in my bones.

[@HarshvardhanKanthode]

I'm just amazed at the amount of research that went into this series. Eye opening stories, reminds us to never forget the history that constitutes a part of you

[@storeymizzell3019]

Ed your forever an inspiration for every little boy who dreams of accomplishing what you accomplished. Thank you for your service and thanks for being an incredible pioneer for every man in this country. God bless you sir

[@marzigeisha]

Ed has eyes you can fall into. They're beautiful, warm, deep and full of stories.

[@christophercampagna665]

he walked so we could run

[@tiffany4628]

4:48 how absolutely disgusting ! Bravo to this strong man! I'm glad to know his story

[@sleepy_boi7552]

yoooooooooooooo is that the guy behind the art for the new nixonverse comic?

[@borisezomo6798]

The Soviets won this one too. They took up the first black person into space even when they did not have blacks themselves. He was Cuban

[@jimoberg3326]

And it was so much in keeping with their established stunt space strategy that it was predicted a year before it happened. Stunts worked a charm on their gullible target audience.

[@purplehaze2250]

@@jimoberg3326 So representation is a 'stunt' to white people? People like you, Jim prove Ed Dwights' father is right about the alleged altruism of whites. Funny how the 'stunt' of race is being used as a literal t*ump card by the Russians now in the slow fall of our republic.

[@jimoberg3326]

@@purplehaze2250 -- Thanks for explaining. The issue that seemed to bother Yeager was that the justifiable criteria that were performance-related were to be set aside. Dwight was caught in the middle, with White House demands for national speaking tours while he was still a Test Pilot School student., which he admits did lower his performance scores relative to the other students. And another factor -- which I think you'll notice was totally omitted in recent press coverage -- was that he happened to be three inches too short to safely fly the Apollo Lunar Module [where the crew flew it standing up while looking out a small face-level window, and used ceiling-mounted navigation instruments]. Sure, he could have used a stool, but what sort of public image would that have portrayed? Soon after he was passed over by NASA, another black pilot, Robert Lawrence, passed all the criteria and was formally selected as an astronaut for the USAF. Besides, Dwight has recently made it clear he is NOT blaming Yeager. Edward J. Dwight [March 2, 2020] == “I never accused Chuck Yeager of causing my failure to fly in space. It was the political environment of the day that transcended anything that Chuck Yeager had an impact on.” facebook.com/NPR/posts/10159027154926756 Also: Smithsonian "Black in Space" documentary, Feb 23, 2020, curator Cathleen Lewis: “We don’t know if Chuck Yeager derailed Dwight’s career. And historians searched for evidence, and haven’t found it.” kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2jNe2uges1pZpo at time 10:58 Maybe the issue is less black-and-white than the media seems to want to make it look? PS -- I was in uniform in those days, here's me [the tall guy] with my AF officer candidate class and astronaut Gordon Cooper in Feb 1963. www.jamesoberg.com/image/cooper-oberg-feb-1963.jpg

[@secundus6457]

The US always lies.

[@robindauphinais9735]

MY GOODNESS, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN ROBBED! HOW COME WILL SMITH OR TYLER PERRY OR DENZEL WASHINGTON OR SPIKE LEE OR OPRAH FOR CHRIST's sake has not made a film about this MOST AMAZING MAN! I can see a fine, black actor almost guaranteed to win an Oscar and a landslide of awards victories for such a film. Thank you guys for making this and bringing me into his world, his brilliance, his spirit right before Christmas 2019. I can't believe how amazing Christmas season has been this year!! Praise God.

[@kwacou4279]

Thank God they haven't, they'd just hollyweird it up. What's needed is a great documentary on this amazing man's life while he's still alive. This needs to be expanded into a 90 min documentary. No fake actors, no fake celebrities necessary when you have the real living hero right here.

[@bo24.u.98]

With every adversity that comes a seed with a greater equivalent his artwork is beautiful and fascinating

[@CorettaJG]

So much respect to Captain Ed Dwight. I served in the Air Force as an active duty officer and never was taught about him in Air Force history. I had to learn about Capt Dwight on Twitter. Thank you for enduring, serving and paving the way for me and my parents. They also served as Air Force officers and my father later worked as a NASA engineer.

[@sanakamran007]

To break a man's spirit.. you have to be very very evil to do that. May they get what they deserve.

[@luciatat4084]

Yes, they are indeed. The devil’s servants. They did not accept him becouse he was a true human, not becouse he wasn’t capable. He wasn’t a liar, like them.