What side are you on?
On July 19, 1969, one of the most iconic events took place; the launch of the Saturn V rocket, also known as Apollo 11. This is known throughout history as the first time humans have landed on the moon.
Recalling that day, an excess amount of a million people assembled along Florida's Space Coast to watch the Apollo 11 liftoff from Launchpad 39A. Onlookers, including myself, stand in awe ready to witness this historic event. While watching in the hot sun, I noticed that everyone wasn’t cheering, and what appealed to me was a large group of African American protesters singing “We shall overcome”. As I looked at the front it was led by Ralph Abernathy, civil rights activist who’s known for his work with Martin Luther King. At this moment, the excitement I once had begun to evanesce and the question I began to ask myself is “Am I screaming for the wrong cause”?.
During this time, the only thing that I remember that was being largely exposed to America in the news outlets was excitement and urge to bet the Soviet Union in “The Space Race”. Which was the mechanical race began by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 with the objective of beating the Soviet Union to the moon.
Before the Apollo 11, the Soviet Union was in the early lead with the successful launch of orbiting of Sputnik 1 and sending the first person to the moon in 1961. Our American pride didn’t allow for this possible win for the opposing side, so government officials were willing to do anything to be in the first place, even if that meant spending 25.4 billion dollars on the Apollo space program.
Our main priority was to get the “Great” Neil Armstrong to the moon and beat the Soviet Union. The money that was spent on the launch could be better spent feeding people on earth. We disregarded the main priorities of America, millions of people were suffering from poverty, the majority of them being black. What about the countless blacks that were living in poverty and struggling to eat, pay their bills, and keep warm during cold winters. Not once did the media address that 31.1% of African Americans were living in poverty, compared to the 9.5 white Americans. The problem isn’t the launch, but the disregard and carelessness from the people suffering on earth. People are starving, while the U.S is paying $12 a day to feed astronauts in space. As a black woman in society, I had to think about what if my family was apart of that 31.1 percent? I wouldn’t be cheering, I would be outraged because the little money I do have is going to the “race to the moon”
My applause turned into chants, “Feed the people on earth!” and my question was answered. I couldn’t stand by idly while millions of my people were struggling to live, while we cheered for a billion-dollar mission to the moon.
When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon he said “One small step for man one giant leap for mankind”. But is it really? Are the countless blacks living in poverty included in this “mankind”?
We can’t make a giant leap for mankind if we don’t make a small leap on the earth.
