A native of Kansas City Kansas, Ed Dwight took his childhood obsession with airplanes to joining the Air Force, becoming a test pilot in a time when black men had to fight just to SERVE in the military, ending up becoming the first African American to be selected for the Aerospace Research Pilot School with an eye on becoming the first black astronaut...but that part of his story came to an abrupt halt when those in power decided the country wasn't ready for a black man in space.

But last month, Ed FINALLY achieved his dream as be flew into space on Blue Origin's New Shephard...and, as such, became the oldest person to ever fly into space, and the distinction of now being referred to as an astronaut.