Ed Dwight American sculptor and astronaut Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ed-Dwight Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ed-Dwight Also known as: Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr. Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents In full: Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr. (Show more) Born: September 9, 1933, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. (Show more) Ed Dwight (born September 9, 1933, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.) is a sculptor and the first Black American to undergo astronaut training. In May 2024 he became the oldest person to enter space. Dwight was born to Edward Dwight, Sr., and Georgia Baker Dwight, both of whom were children of enslaved people. Dwight’s father played baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues, and his mother encouraged her son’s interest in learning and artistic pursuits. Dwight had an early interest in airplanes and voraciously read about the subject, even working for pocket change at a small airport near ...(100 of 827 words)

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