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Author
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Topic: Capt. Ed Dwight, 'honorary astronaut' (petition)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-23-2016 04:45 PM
   
Shades of Blue, a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring, tutoring, counseling and arranging internship and employment referrals for young people who desire to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, has begun a petition for the White House to recognize Capt. Ed Dwight, Jr. (USAF Ret.) as an "honorary astronaut." On Nov. 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States was assassinated. Ranked as a favorite president among American citizens, he had been in office a brief 1,000 days; his death changed the futures of many. Specifically, that of former test pilot and the first African American astronaut candidate appointed by the Kennedy administration, Captain Ed Dwight, Jr. (USAF Ret.).The death of President Kennedy and discrimination during the civil rights era dictated that he would never realize his dream of becoming an astronaut and experiencing first hand the big blue marble from space. We of the aeronautical and aviation industry ask the federal government to recognize first African American astronaut candidate Ed Dwight as an "Honorary Astronaut." For those unfamiliar with his background, Dwight graduated from the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. His appointment was reportedly politically driven by the Kennedy administration to demonstrate that the Air Force and space program were not subject to discrimination.Dwight was touted by the media as the nation's first black astronaut, and for a while toured the country to deliver motivational speeches to students. After JFK's assassination, Dwight was reassigned from the school and he resigned from the Air Force in 1966. Today, he is a respected sculptor. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 09-23-2016 06:21 PM
Does anyone know what the astronauts from his timeframe feel about this? |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-23-2016 07:41 PM
There is more to the story.It will be interesting to see where this goes. I don't have a problem with it either way. Suffice it to say that Ed Dwight was placed in a position he was probably not prepared to be fully successful in, through no fault of his own. Regardless of what happens, he is a true pioneer, crafting a successful career in aviation against truly astronomical odds. And he has achieved even greater heights in his subsequent career — a true inspiration for all. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 09-24-2016 12:15 AM
I hope he makes it. He had to put up with a lot back then, because of his race. |
oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 09-24-2016 03:10 AM
I cannot place my hands on my copy of Chuck Yeager's book, "Yeager," to look this up. Is Capt. Ed Dwight the person Yeager writes about in his book when he covers the topic of black test pilots at Edwards? |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 09-24-2016 08:08 AM
Yes, Ed Dwight is the USAF officer referred to in Yeager's biography and "The Right Stuff."Note that Dwight is a board member of Shades of Blue. |
DeepSea
Member Posts: 68
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 09-26-2016 02:53 PM
Bizarre. History cannot be changed retrospectively. What good does creating an "honorary astronaut" do? It would be far better to get Major Robert H. Lawrence better known in the public eye if role models are the goal. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-26-2016 04:13 PM
I believe the title is intended to both honor Dwight and raise awareness of his history (and the history of the time period that led to him not becoming a full-fledged astronaut). |
cfreeze79
Member Posts: 455
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 09-26-2016 11:38 PM
My two cents — nope.Having researched the matter beyond the musings of Yeager's "autobiography," Dwight wasn't discriminated against — he was "washed out" because he didn't measure up academically — pure and simple. And, frankly, he probably shouldn't have been put in the position he was to begin with. If he is so honored, anyone in similar professional circumstances should also be honored. No disrespect intended... |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 09-27-2016 04:01 PM
I do not see how you can make that statement.
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NukeGuy
Member Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 09-27-2016 05:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cfreeze79:
My two cents — nope.
I agree. Special accommodations were made for Dwight. The class size was significantly enlarged so he could be admitted without jumping over more qualified candidates. He had special tutors. The DOJ was constantly monitoring the situation.And after he left the USAF, he became a sculptor? How does that help encourage young people to consider aerospace careers? To be honest, I think it is unseemly that he is a board member of the organization that is pushing this idea. |
DeepSea
Member Posts: 68
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 09-27-2016 07:14 PM
Let's call it what it is: historical revisionism. I am increasingly sympathetic to correcting some of history's wrongs as I get older, but this is not one of them. If greater public awareness is needed, we should be honoring Major Lawrence's fine legacy, not creating a false one for Captain Dwight. |
Dennis Beatty
Member Posts: 356
From:
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 09-28-2016 06:32 PM
I vote "NO." Whatever the reasons... political, racial or educational... he did not reach 328,000 feet. Even if the award is "honorary," it dilutes the achievement of those who did. What next? "Participant" awards for all of us who want to go but are unable to? |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-28-2016 06:44 PM
I'll give him that he was the first African-American to be considered as a potential astronaut. But he didn't quite achieve that goal, because he ultimately wasn't qualified as much as other candidates. Like hundreds of caucasian applicants. A mere footnote, not an historical achievement. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-28-2016 07:28 PM
Regardless if the petition is successful or not, for many African Americans living at the time Dwight was touted as the "nation's first black astronaut" (in the pages of Ebony and elsewhere), he was more than a mere footnote. quote:
Originally posted by Dennis Beatty:
...he did not reach 328,000 feet.
Neither did Bill Dana or Jack McKay, who were awarded honorary astronaut status by NASA in 2005. |
cfreeze79
Member Posts: 455
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 09-28-2016 10:19 PM
But - in all fairness - the U.S. Air Force had recognized the pair as flown astronauts, as the service used/uses a 50-mile altitude requirement, not a 62-mile like NASA. And the word "honorary" doesn't appear in the linked text. The closest analog would be "ceremonial," and that was about the wings themselves. A clear "apples vs. oranges" argument in the case of Captain Dwight... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-28-2016 10:22 PM
I wasn't intending it to be a comparison with Dwight; only a response to the mention of 328,000 feet. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-28-2016 10:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
...he was more than a mere footnote.
The same could be said for the "Mercury 13" women... so if this were cited as precedent, would we make them all "honorary astronauts" too?It seems this could rapidly get out of hand by similarly titling anyone who felt they "almost made it," if it weren't for _______. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-28-2016 11:10 PM
To be clear, I am not advocating one way or the other with regards to the honorary title. But even without such, I would be wary of labeling Dwight or the FLATs as footnotes. They were not astronauts, but they did contribute to the history of their time. |
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