Ed Dwight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Dwight
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Dwight in Air Force uniform
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| Born |
Edward Joseph Dwight Jr.
September 9, 1933 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
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| Education | Kansas City Junior College (AA) Arizona State University, Tempe (BS) University of Denver (MFA) |
| Known for |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United State |
| Service/ |
United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1953–1966 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Awards | Air Force Commander's Award for Public Service |
| Space career | |
| Spaceflight participant | |
| Selection | Space for Humanity (2024) |
| Missions | Blue Origin NS-25 |
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Mission insignia
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Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. (born September 9, 1933) is an American sculptor, author, retired test pilot, and astronaut. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1953. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy chose Dwight to be the first African American to enter a special Air Force program. This program trained pilots who might become NASA astronauts.
Even though he finished his training in 1963, he was not chosen for the Astronaut Corps. This decision was seen as controversial by many.
In 2024, Dwight finally traveled into space on the Blue Origin NS-25 mission. He became the oldest person to ever fly in space at 90 years old. This record was previously held by actor William Shatner. In 2020, he also became an honorary member of the U.S. Space Force.
Ed Dwight is also a very talented sculptor. He has created many public monuments. These include the Texas African American History Memorial in Texas and the African American History Monument in South Carolina.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Inspiration
Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. was born on September 9, 1933. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, during a time when places were separated by race. His father, Edward Joseph Dwight Sr., was a baseball player for the Kansas City Monarchs.
From a young age, Dwight loved building things. He even made a toy airplane from orange crates when he was four. He enjoyed reading and was good at art. One day, he saw a Black Air Force pilot named Dayton Ragland on a newspaper. This inspired him greatly, as he had not known Black pilots could fly airplanes.
In 1951, he was the first African American boy to graduate from Bishop Ward High School. He then studied engineering at Kansas City Junior College. He earned his degree in 1953.
Military Career
Becoming a Pilot
Dwight joined the United States Air Force in 1953. He completed his flight training in Texas and Missouri. In 1955, he became an Air Force second lieutenant. He was then sent to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona.
While training to be a test pilot, Dwight also took night classes. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Arizona State University in 1957. He later completed more advanced Air Force courses. He reached the rank of captain in the Air Force.
Astronaut Training and Challenges
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy wanted to include a Black person in the astronaut program. Ed Dwight was chosen to enter the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS). This was a program that prepared pilots for NASA. His selection made headlines around the world. He appeared on the covers of magazines like Ebony and Jet.
Dwight did well in the ARPS program. He was among the top candidates for NASA's Astronaut Group 3 in 1963. However, only the top seven were chosen, and he was not selected. Dwight believes that the death of President Kennedy in November 1963 affected his path.
After leaving the Air Force in 1966, Dwight felt that racial issues had prevented him from becoming a NASA astronaut. However, he also said that the experience opened up many opportunities for him. In 2020, he was made an honorary member of the United States Space Force.
Spaceflight in 2024
In 2024, Ed Dwight finally went to space. He flew on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-25 mission on May 19, 2024. This flight was supported by Space For Humanity. At 90 years, 8 months, and 10 days old, he became the oldest person to ever fly in space.
After his flight, Dwight shared his amazing experience. He said that looking at Earth from space made him wonder why people on Earth can't get along better. He saw Earth as beautiful and orderly, without borders between countries.
Sculpting Career
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After leaving the Air Force, Dwight worked in different jobs. He was an engineer, worked in real estate, and even owned a barbecue restaurant. His interest in sculpting grew when he was asked to create a statue for the Colorado state capitol building in 1974.
He then moved to Denver and earned a master's degree in sculpture from the University of Denver in 1977. Dwight is known for his unique way of using empty space in his sculptures. His art often focuses on Black history and civil rights. He explores themes like slavery and freedom.
One of his first big projects was a series of bronze sculptures called "Black Frontier in the American West." He also created over seventy bronze sculptures for the St. Louis Arch Museum. This series, called "Jazz: An American Art Form," shows the history of jazz music. It features famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
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Today, Ed Dwight owns and runs Ed Dwight Studios in Denver. It has a studio, a gallery, and a foundry for metal casting. The gallery is open to the public.
Awards and Honors
- 1986 – Honorary doctorate from Arizona State University
- 2020 – Air Force Commander's Award for Public Service
- 2020 – Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artist Award
- 2021 – Asteroid 92579 Dwight (an asteroid named after him)
- 2022 – University of Denver CAHSS Lifetime Achievement Award
Personal Life
Ed Dwight was raised Catholic and was an altar boy. In 1997, he was the main sculptor for the statue of the Madonna and Child at the Our Mother of Africa Chapel. This chapel is for African American Catholics in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He was the only Black artist involved in this project.
Sculptures
As of late 2024, Ed Dwight has created 132 memorial sculptures. He has also made over 20,000 other art pieces, including paintings and sculptures. Some of his notable works include:
| Name | Picture | Location | Unveiled | Notes |
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| African American History Monument | South Carolina State House grounds – Columbia, South Carolina | March 29, 2001 | ||
| Alex Haley / Kunta Kinte Memorial | The City Dock – Annapolis, Maryland | December 1999 | ||
| Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial | Constitution Gardens – Washington, D.C. | 1991 | ||
| Captain Walter Dyett Statue | Chicago, Illinois | |||
| Concerto | Folly Theater – Kansas City, Missouri | |||
| Dr. Benjamin Mays | Morehouse College Commons – Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | Anne Arundel Community College – Annapolis, Maryland | 2006 | ||
| Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. | Houston, Texas | 2007 | ||
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial | City Park – Denver, Colorado | 2002 | ||
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 2011 | ||
| Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad | Philip A. Hart Plaza – Detroit, Michigan | 2001 | ||
| George Washington Williams bust | Ohio Statehouse – Columbus, Ohio | |||
| Hank Aaron | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia | 1982 | ||
| Inauguration of History and Hope – Inaugural Sculpture Scene of President Barack Obama | Touring exhibit | 2010 | ||
| Jack Trice Memorial | Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa | |||
| Jazz: An American Art Form | St. Louis Arch Museum – St. Louis, Missouri | |||
| John Hope Franklin Tower of Reconciliation | Tulsa, Oklahoma | |||
| Mayor Harold Washington | Harold Washington Cultural Center – Chicago, Illinois | 2004 | ||
| Memorial to Rosa Parks, Mother of the Civil Rights Movement | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2010 | ||
| Mother of Africa Chapel | Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – Washington, D.C. | 1997 | ||
| Mr. Frederick Douglass | Frederick Douglass National Historic Site – Washington, D.C. | 1980 | Dwight's first commission | |
| Quincy Jones Sculpture Park | Chicago, Illinois | |||
| Soldiers Memorial | Lincoln University – Jefferson City, Missouri | 2007 | ||
| Texas African American History Memorial | Texas State Capitol – Austin, Texas | November 19, 2016 | Erected by the Texas African American History Memorial Foundation. | |
| Tower of Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad |  |
Civic Esplanade – Windsor, Ontario | 2001 | |
| Underground Railroad Memorial | Kellogg Foundation headquarters – Battle Creek, Michigan | 1994 | ||
| United House of Prayer for All People | Lincoln Cemetery – Suitland, Maryland | 2008 | ||
| William E. Smith, Director of Airports | Denver, Colorado | |||
| Denmark Vesey Monument | Charleston, South Carolina | 2014 |
Dwight also mentioned in October 2024 that he was working on a memorial for the Normandy beaches. This memorial would honor the Black soldiers who fought in World War II.
See also
