Explores the experiences of the first Black astronauts through decades of archive film and interviews in a reflective illumination on the burden of breaking barriers.
The Space Race weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars, including Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight, Charles Bolden, and Leland Melvin among many others. Directors Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza address the racial injustice within NASA across several decades. The film follows pioneers who fought to overcome not just the obstacles of their astronaut training but also the challenges that stemmed from the racial prejudice and discrimination present at the time. The Space Race highlights how their perseverance challenged the definition of “the right stuff,” even when their stories were omitted from the history books.
Add to playlist