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Wiki History: Black Explorers 2
Black Explorers Part II
Welcome back to robinlofton.com for another Wiki History lecture. Today is the second lecture about black explorers. In the first Wiki history lecture, we discussed Matthew Henson, who was the first person to reach the North Pole. While there is some dispute about this, we recognized that Henson made incredible contributions as a navigator, ocean surveyor, and explorer. There is a lot more to know about this great man and his explorations so I encourage you to listen to the first Wiki History lecture and to read his book, A Negro in the North Pole, which you can find on robinlofton.com.
In today’s wiki lecture, we will discuss explorations that are out of this world! These black explorers went longer and farther than many people ever dream of going. They are great examples of why we are studying explorers. We can learn so much from them. They had a grand vision and never-ending determination. They worked hard and never gave up. Remember it took 20 years and numerous failed attempts for Matthew Henson to reach the North Pole. But he eventually made it. And that’s what we can learn from these explorers.
Let’s get started with today’s great Black explorers.
Today’s explorers won’t go north or south. Today, they go up!
We begin with Guion Bluford, who on August 30, 1983, was the first African American astronaut to make a space flight. But let’s back up for a minute. Dr. Bluford was born in Philadelphia in 1942. He earned his pilot’s license when he was just 24. Then he went on to earn his doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978. He also joined NASA in 1978. And made his maiden voyage in space was just 5 years later. He operated the remote manipulator system, Spacelab-3 experiments, shuttle systems, and the flight systems lab. During his career, Dr. Bluford made numerous space flights and spent a total of 688 hours in space before his retirement from NASA in 1993.
Other African Americans also dedicated themselves to space flight and exploration.
Frederick Gregory was the first Black person to actually command a space shuttle mission. In 1985, he served as a pilot on Challenger for a 7-day mission. Commander Gregory joined NASA shortly after receiving his masters degree in information systems. In 1989, he was given command of the Discovery mission, which orbited the Earth 79 times in 120 hours. In total, he commanded 3 major space missions and spent over 450 hours in space. By the end of his career, he reached the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force.
In 1987, Mae Jemison was the first black woman astronaut and the first Black woman to fly in space. She was the science mission specialist on the historic 8-day mission on the Endeavor space shuttle. By her retirement from NASA, Dr. Jamison logged in 190 hours in space. Her educational background is as varied as it is impressive having graduated from Stanford University with a degree in both chemical engineering and African American studies. She also earned a doctorate degree from Cornell University and worked as a staff doctor for the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone. Today, Dr. Jamison owns a private firm, called the Jamison Group, and teaches at Dartmouth University.
Coming out of the shuttle, Bernard Harris, Jr. became the first black astronaut to actually walk in space. He walked in space for 5 hours and logged in more than 230 hours in space. He was also a medical doctor and trained as a flight surgeon. After leaving NASA, he founded the Harris Group, which is a Texas-based organization that works to empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. Dr. Harris first became interested in being an astronaut watching the Apollo 11 mission on TV in 1969. Twenty years—and lots of hard work and determination later—he was asked to join NASA. By the end of his career, he logged more than 4,164,183 miles in space.
Finally, and sadly, in 1986, Ronald McNair became the first black astronaut killed during a space mission. He was aboard the ill-fated Challenger when it exploded shortly after liftoff. Dr. McNair was an extraordinary explorer who was born in South Carolina and able to read and write by the age of three. At the age of four, he successfully challenged the whites-only borrowing privileges at the local library. In 1976, he received a scholarship to MIT where he graduated magna cum laude with a doctorate in physics. He was invited to join NASA in 1978. Dr. McNair is remembered as having encouraged and supported young black engineers and scientists in the aerospace program. In his short life, he was an extraordinary student, physicist, and astronaut.
He once said, "Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and how badly you want them. . . ..You're eagles! Stretch your wings and fly to the sky."
Words to live by!
There are so many others that have contributed to space exploration. However, we only have time to acknowledge the contributions of these five astronauts who committed themselves to exploring where no one had gone before. And they also made great contributions on earth too.
Remember the names: Guy Bluford, Frederick Gregory, Mae Jamison, Bernard Harris, and Ronald McNair. Great explorers. Great scientists. Great people!
Now here is another great explorer. She was not an astronaut. She did not go into outer space. But she set her sights high and she reached incredible heights: The top of Mount Everest!
Sophia Danenberg was always a high flyer and explorer. Born in Illinois in 1972, Sophia became the first African American woman and the first Black woman from anywhere in the world to climb Mt. Everest.
Sophia became involved in mountaineering after receiving her degree from Harvard University. For 2 years, she did technical rock climbs with her local Appalachian Mountain Club.
Danenberg's first major climb was at Mount Rainier, in Washington State in 2002. Over the next two years she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, Mount Baker in Washington state and Mount Kenya. In 2005 she scaled five peaks plus Mount McKinley in Alaska. That’s right, she climbed the highest peak in North America.
But her great challenge was yet to come. In the spring of 2006, at the age of 34 and with only one week of planning, she started climbing Mount Everest—the highest mountain in the world.
She signed up for an unguided climb, which meant that she had to carry all of her own gear, pitch her own tent, and make all the decisions, and basically find her own way. On May 19, 2006, after two months of climbing, she reached the summit of Mount Everest at 29,000 feet. She was suffering from bronchits, a stuffed nose and frostbitten cheeks but she was determined to push through the bad weather and sit on top of the world!
But she did not stop with Everest. She has now climbed more than 19 peaks around the world.
Back on lower elevations, Sophia Danenberg has continued her upward journey. She received her masters in economics from the University of Connecticut and works with inner city children.
About her historic climb, she says, “It’s not really about having the ability to climb. It’s about this ability to say, ‘I can do it really well.”
That’s a great goal. Whatever you do, do it really well.
Thank you for visiting robinlofton.com for this Wiki history lecture about great Black explorers. Remember to subscribe so that the Wiki History lectures will come directly to your mailbox. Please visit robinlofton.com and leave your comments. I would love to hear about your explorations. Future Wiki History lectures will focus on Blacks in the Military (lots of interesting information and lessons from the African Americans who fought in America’s wars beginning with the Civil War) and we will post Part II about the importance of African American history and how it can inspire and motivate us.
Remember that we can learn a lot from the great explorers. We can learn from their courage, vision, determination, and positive outlook. Life is an exploration. Keep exploring higher and farther! See you again soon.
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By Robin Lofton
3.5
22 ratings
Black Explorers Part II
Welcome back to robinlofton.com for another Wiki History lecture. Today is the second lecture about black explorers. In the first Wiki history lecture, we discussed Matthew Henson, who was the first person to reach the North Pole. While there is some dispute about this, we recognized that Henson made incredible contributions as a navigator, ocean surveyor, and explorer. There is a lot more to know about this great man and his explorations so I encourage you to listen to the first Wiki History lecture and to read his book, A Negro in the North Pole, which you can find on robinlofton.com.
In today’s wiki lecture, we will discuss explorations that are out of this world! These black explorers went longer and farther than many people ever dream of going. They are great examples of why we are studying explorers. We can learn so much from them. They had a grand vision and never-ending determination. They worked hard and never gave up. Remember it took 20 years and numerous failed attempts for Matthew Henson to reach the North Pole. But he eventually made it. And that’s what we can learn from these explorers.
Let’s get started with today’s great Black explorers.
Today’s explorers won’t go north or south. Today, they go up!
We begin with Guion Bluford, who on August 30, 1983, was the first African American astronaut to make a space flight. But let’s back up for a minute. Dr. Bluford was born in Philadelphia in 1942. He earned his pilot’s license when he was just 24. Then he went on to earn his doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978. He also joined NASA in 1978. And made his maiden voyage in space was just 5 years later. He operated the remote manipulator system, Spacelab-3 experiments, shuttle systems, and the flight systems lab. During his career, Dr. Bluford made numerous space flights and spent a total of 688 hours in space before his retirement from NASA in 1993.
Other African Americans also dedicated themselves to space flight and exploration.
Frederick Gregory was the first Black person to actually command a space shuttle mission. In 1985, he served as a pilot on Challenger for a 7-day mission. Commander Gregory joined NASA shortly after receiving his masters degree in information systems. In 1989, he was given command of the Discovery mission, which orbited the Earth 79 times in 120 hours. In total, he commanded 3 major space missions and spent over 450 hours in space. By the end of his career, he reached the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force.
In 1987, Mae Jemison was the first black woman astronaut and the first Black woman to fly in space. She was the science mission specialist on the historic 8-day mission on the Endeavor space shuttle. By her retirement from NASA, Dr. Jamison logged in 190 hours in space. Her educational background is as varied as it is impressive having graduated from Stanford University with a degree in both chemical engineering and African American studies. She also earned a doctorate degree from Cornell University and worked as a staff doctor for the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone. Today, Dr. Jamison owns a private firm, called the Jamison Group, and teaches at Dartmouth University.
Coming out of the shuttle, Bernard Harris, Jr. became the first black astronaut to actually walk in space. He walked in space for 5 hours and logged in more than 230 hours in space. He was also a medical doctor and trained as a flight surgeon. After leaving NASA, he founded the Harris Group, which is a Texas-based organization that works to empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. Dr. Harris first became interested in being an astronaut watching the Apollo 11 mission on TV in 1969. Twenty years—and lots of hard work and determination later—he was asked to join NASA. By the end of his career, he logged more than 4,164,183 miles in space.
Finally, and sadly, in 1986, Ronald McNair became the first black astronaut killed during a space mission. He was aboard the ill-fated Challenger when it exploded shortly after liftoff. Dr. McNair was an extraordinary explorer who was born in South Carolina and able to read and write by the age of three. At the age of four, he successfully challenged the whites-only borrowing privileges at the local library. In 1976, he received a scholarship to MIT where he graduated magna cum laude with a doctorate in physics. He was invited to join NASA in 1978. Dr. McNair is remembered as having encouraged and supported young black engineers and scientists in the aerospace program. In his short life, he was an extraordinary student, physicist, and astronaut.
He once said, "Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and how badly you want them. . . ..You're eagles! Stretch your wings and fly to the sky."
Words to live by!
There are so many others that have contributed to space exploration. However, we only have time to acknowledge the contributions of these five astronauts who committed themselves to exploring where no one had gone before. And they also made great contributions on earth too.
Remember the names: Guy Bluford, Frederick Gregory, Mae Jamison, Bernard Harris, and Ronald McNair. Great explorers. Great scientists. Great people!
Now here is another great explorer. She was not an astronaut. She did not go into outer space. But she set her sights high and she reached incredible heights: The top of Mount Everest!
Sophia Danenberg was always a high flyer and explorer. Born in Illinois in 1972, Sophia became the first African American woman and the first Black woman from anywhere in the world to climb Mt. Everest.
Sophia became involved in mountaineering after receiving her degree from Harvard University. For 2 years, she did technical rock climbs with her local Appalachian Mountain Club.
Danenberg's first major climb was at Mount Rainier, in Washington State in 2002. Over the next two years she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, Mount Baker in Washington state and Mount Kenya. In 2005 she scaled five peaks plus Mount McKinley in Alaska. That’s right, she climbed the highest peak in North America.
But her great challenge was yet to come. In the spring of 2006, at the age of 34 and with only one week of planning, she started climbing Mount Everest—the highest mountain in the world.
She signed up for an unguided climb, which meant that she had to carry all of her own gear, pitch her own tent, and make all the decisions, and basically find her own way. On May 19, 2006, after two months of climbing, she reached the summit of Mount Everest at 29,000 feet. She was suffering from bronchits, a stuffed nose and frostbitten cheeks but she was determined to push through the bad weather and sit on top of the world!
But she did not stop with Everest. She has now climbed more than 19 peaks around the world.
Back on lower elevations, Sophia Danenberg has continued her upward journey. She received her masters in economics from the University of Connecticut and works with inner city children.
About her historic climb, she says, “It’s not really about having the ability to climb. It’s about this ability to say, ‘I can do it really well.”
That’s a great goal. Whatever you do, do it really well.
Thank you for visiting robinlofton.com for this Wiki history lecture about great Black explorers. Remember to subscribe so that the Wiki History lectures will come directly to your mailbox. Please visit robinlofton.com and leave your comments. I would love to hear about your explorations. Future Wiki History lectures will focus on Blacks in the Military (lots of interesting information and lessons from the African Americans who fought in America’s wars beginning with the Civil War) and we will post Part II about the importance of African American history and how it can inspire and motivate us.
Remember that we can learn a lot from the great explorers. We can learn from their courage, vision, determination, and positive outlook. Life is an exploration. Keep exploring higher and farther! See you again soon.