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Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Breaking Barriers in the Sky: The Story of Lt Col Merryl Tengesdal

“United States Air Force, and the first female African-American fighter pilot in the history of that service.

She flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon during combat missions in Operation Northern Watch.

She is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, a member of the 78th Attack Squadron, serving as an MQ-9 Pilot and Mission Commander.” - from X.com post.

Today, we celebrate a true pioneer, a woman who soared to incredible heights and shattered glass ceilings in the United States Air Force. We're talking about Lieutenant Colonel Merryl Tengesdal, the first female African-American fighter pilot in the history of that service. Her journey is one of immense courage, skill, and an unwavering commitment to duty.

Lt Col Tengesdal's career is a testament to her dedication. She made history flying the formidable F-16 Fighting Falcon during combat missions in Operation Northern Watch. This critical operation, which took place from 1997 to 2003, enforced a no-fly zone in northern Iraq, aiming to prevent Iraqi aggression against the Kurdish population and monitor Iraqi military activity. Pilots like Tengesdal were vital in maintaining stability and protecting human lives in the region.

After her impactful time in the F-16, Lt Col Tengesdal continued to push boundaries. She is currently stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, a member of the 78th Attack Squadron, where she serves as an MQ-9 Pilot and Mission Commander. This role highlights the evolving nature of modern aerial warfare. The 78th Attack Squadron is part of the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) community, operating advanced systems that provide crucial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as precision strike options.

But what exactly is an MQ-9? The MQ-9 Reaper is a sophisticated, remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to as a drone. It's designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance and can carry various weapons, making it a versatile asset for intelligence gathering and combat operations. As an MQ-9 Pilot and Mission Commander, Lt Col Tengesdal is at the forefront of this advanced technology, leading missions that protect national security from a ground-based control station, often thousands of miles from the actual aircraft.

A Legacy of Inspiration

Merryl Tengesdal's path to becoming a fighter pilot was not an easy one. She earned her commission through the Navy ROTC program at the University of New Haven, where she graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She initially served in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot before transferring to the Air Force to pursue her dream of flying fighter jets. Her perseverance and refusal to be limited by expectations are truly inspiring.

Beyond her remarkable accomplishments in the cockpit, Lt Col Tengesdal's legacy extends to her role as a trailblazer and mentor. She has opened doors for countless women and minorities who aspire to careers in aviation and the military. Her presence demonstrates that with talent, hard work, and determination, anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of their background.

Her story is a powerful reminder of the incredible contributions made by individuals in service to their country, and the importance of recognizing those who break barriers and pave the way for future generations.

Here's an image of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, the type of aircraft Lt Col Tengesdal flew during Operation Northern Watch:

Here is the MQ-9 Reaper:

The Extraordinary Journey of Amanda Smith: From Slavery to Global Evangelist

The story of Amanda Berry Smith (1837–1915) is one of the most remarkable odysseys in American religious history. Born into slavery in Long Green, Maryland, she rose to become a world-renowned Methodist evangelist, a pioneer in the Holiness movement, and a compassionate social reformer.

Her life serves as a testament to the power of faith to transcend the barriers of race, gender, and poverty in the 19th century.

Who Was Amanda Smith?

Amanda was born to enslaved parents, Samuel Berry and Miriam Matthews. Through incredible grit, her father worked extra hours at night to purchase the freedom of his entire family. They eventually settled in Pennsylvania, where their home became a station on the Underground Railroad.

Despite having less than four months of formal schooling, Amanda taught herself to read by cutting letters out of newspapers. Her adulthood was marked by significant personal hardship:

She outlived two husbands (her first died in the Civil War).
She suffered the heartbreaking loss of four of her five children.
She worked for years as a washerwoman and cook to support her surviving daughter, Mazie.

It was amidst this grief that Amanda found her calling. In 1868, she experienced what she described as "entire sanctification," a spiritual turning point that launched her career as an itinerant preacher.

Church Theology and the Holiness Movement

Amanda Smith was a leading voice in the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. Her theology centered on several key pillars that defined the "Higher Christian Life" of the era:

Entire Sanctification: She preached the doctrine that a believer could be "cleansed from all sin" through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, leading to a life of perfect love and devotion to God.
Social Holiness: Unlike some who focused purely on the internal soul, Smith believed faith required action. This led her to be a staunch advocate for the Temperance movement and the education of women and children.
Universal Gospel: Though she faced resistance from those who believed women should not preach—particularly within some sectors of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church—she maintained that her "ordination" came directly from God. She drew massive crowds of both Black and white listeners, effectively bridging racial divides through her powerful contralto singing voice and plainspoken, "Quaker-like" preaching style.

A Global Legacy

Amanda Smith didn't just preach in American camp meetings; she became the first African American woman to work as an international evangelist. Her travels took her across four continents:

England & Scotland: She spent two years preaching at major holiness conventions.
India: She spent 18 months traveling and preaching with Bishop James Thoburn.
West Africa (Liberia & Sierra Leone): She served as a missionary for eight years, often battling "African Fever" (malaria) while establishing schools and temperance societies.

Upon her return to the U.S., she used the proceeds from her famous autobiography to found the Amanda Smith Orphanage and Industrial Home for Abandoned and Destitute Colored Children in Harvey, Illinois, in 1899.

Sources and Further Reading

Roberta Cleopatra Flack

The Vagabond Prophet: The Life and Legacy of Claude McKay

Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a titan of the Harlem Renaissance, a "vagabond poet" whose restless spirit took him from the hills of Jamaica to the Bolshevik circles of Moscow and the jazz-soaked docks of Marseille. He was a master of the Shakespearean sonnet, yet he used that colonial form to deliver some of the most militant and defiant calls for racial justice in history.

Who Was Claude McKay?

Born Festus Claudius McKay in Sunny Ville, Jamaica, he was the son of peasant farmers with deep Ashanti and Malagasy roots. After a brief and disillusioning stint as a police constable in Kingston, McKay moved to the United States in 1912 to study agronomy. However, the visceral shock of American Jim Crow racism quickly turned his focus from farming to revolutionary art.

McKay lived a life of constant movement and contradiction. He was a bisexual man who explored Harlem’s clandestine queer scene, a socialist who addressed the Kremlin on the "Negro Question," and an agnostic who eventually converted to Catholicism. His work provided an "immigrant perspective" to the Black experience, blending a deep love for his heritage with a fierce, uncompromising resistance to oppression.

The Literary Bibliography

McKay’s body of work is staggering in its range, moving from Jamaican Patois to formal English verse and gritty realist prose.

Poetry Collections

Songs of Jamaica (1912): His debut, written in Jamaican dialect, celebrating peasant life.
Constab Ballads (1912): Based on his experiences in the Jamaican constabulary.
Spring in New Hampshire (1920): Published during his time in London.
Harlem Shadows (1922): His most influential collection, often credited with officially launching the Harlem Renaissance.

Novels & Prose

Home to Harlem (1928): A bestseller that won the Harmon Gold Award, though it was criticized by W.E.B. Du Bois for its "frank" portrayal of Harlem's underbelly.
Banjo (1929): Set in Marseille, this novel focused on a group of Black expatriates and influenced the Négritude movement.
Banana Bottom (1933): Frequently cited as his finest novel, exploring the cultural identity of a woman returning to Jamaica.
A Long Way from Home (1937): An insightful autobiography of his global travels.
Amiable with Big Teeth (2017): A "lost" novel discovered in the Columbia University archives and published posthumously.

Filmography & Media

While McKay was primarily a man of letters, his life has been the subject of modern documentary exploration and cinematic tributes.

Claude McKay: From Harlem to Marseille (2021): A documentary by Matthieu Verdeil that retraces McKay's "vagabond" years across Europe and North Africa.
Claude McKay: The Wanderings of a Rebellious Poet (2026): A follow-up documentary narrated by Gaël Faye, featuring rare archival footage.
KAY! Letters to a Lost Poet: A multimedia performance piece blending jazz and slam poetry based on his life.

Legacy and Impact

McKay’s most famous poem, "If We Must Die," written during the "Red Summer" of 1919, remains a universal anthem of resistance. Ironically, Winston Churchill later used the poem to rally the British during WWII, proving the timeless power of McKay's defiance.

He broke the mold of the "timid" Black poet of the Victorian era, paving the way for Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. His legacy is one of unapologetic truth-telling—demanding dignity in a world designed to deny it.

"If we must die, let it not be like hogs... Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!"

Resources & Multimedia

The Archive of Recorded Poetry: The Library of Congress holds memorial recordings and readings of his work.
The Marxists Internet Archive: A comprehensive Claude McKay Archive containing his political speeches and early poems.
Poetry Foundation: A detailed biographical profile and collection of his poems.
https://x.com/i/status/2026192529339896012

Analysis of "America" and "If We Must Die"

This video provides a deep dive into how McKay's immigrant background and the racial violence of 1919 shaped his most famous literary contributions.

The Woman Who Revolutionized the Laundry Room: Ellen Eglin

While names like Edison or Bell are household staples, many of the most practical inventions in history came from the minds of those whose names were nearly erased by time. One such visionary was Ellen Eglin, an African American inventor who changed the way the world did laundry in the late 19th century.

Early Life and Biography

Details of Ellen Eglin’s early life are unfortunately sparse, a common reality for Black women in the 1800s. We know she was born in Washington, D.C. around 1849.

Eglin spent a significant portion of her life working as a housekeeper and a government clerk. It was during her time managing household chores that she identified a grueling, repetitive pain point: the manual wringing of wet, heavy clothes. At the time, laundry was an all-day, back-breaking labor that involved twisting fabric by hand to squeeze out water before hanging it to dry.

Education and Intellectual Drive

There is no formal record of Eglin receiving a high school or university education. However, her invention proves she possessed a high degree of mechanical intuition and spatial intelligence. Like many great inventors of the Industrial Revolution, her "schooling" was the practical observation of mechanical deficiencies in daily life.

The Big Accomplishment: The Clothes Wringer

In 1888, Eglin invented a high-functioning mechanical clothes wringer. Her design featured two rollers geared together; when a crank was turned, wet clothes were pulled through the rollers, effectively squeezing out the water.

Why didn't she patent it?

In one of the most poignant moments in history, Eglin sold the rights to her invention to a white agent for a mere $18. When asked why she didn't patent it herself and reap the rewards, she told the Woman Inventor magazine in 1890:

"You know I am black and if it was known that a negro woman patented the invention, white ladies would not buy the wringer. I was afraid to be known because of my color in having the machine placed upon the market."

Despite this, her design was a massive commercial success and laid the groundwork for the modern washing machine.

Legacy and Impact

Ellen Eglin’s legacy is twofold:

Technological: Her roller design was the direct predecessor to the automated wringers found on early electric washing machines.
Social: She serves as a powerful symbol of the "hidden figures" in American history. Her story highlights the systemic barriers that prevented women of color from receiving credit for their intellectual property.

Today, she is celebrated in STEM circles as a pioneer who prioritized the progress of her invention over personal fame, even if that choice was forced by the prejudices of her era.

Sources & Further Reading

The Forgotten Spark: The Life and Martyrdom of Lamar "Ditney" Smith

In the history of the American Civil Rights Movement, names like Emmett Till and Medgar Evers are etched into the national consciousness. Yet, just weeks before Till’s murder, a World War I veteran and farmer named Lamar "Ditney" Smith was gunned down in broad daylight for the "crime" of organizing the Black vote.

His story is a raw look at the cost of democracy and a legacy that helped ignite the modern struggle for equality.

Who Was Lamar "Ditney" Smith?

Lamar Smith (1892–1955) was a resident of Lincoln County, Mississippi. A successful farmer and a veteran, Smith refused to accept the secondary status imposed by Jim Crow laws. He became a prominent figure in the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL), an organization dedicated to civic engagement and voter registration.

On August 13, 1955, while helping Black voters fill out absentee ballots for a primary runoff election to ensure they wouldn't be intimidated at the polls, Smith was shot to death on the lawn of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Brookhaven. Despite dozens of witnesses and the local sheriff being present, the three white men arrested for the crime were never indicted because witnesses refused to testify.

His Legacy: The Prelude to a Revolution

Smith’s murder served as a grim catalyst. While it didn't receive the international media frenzy that followed Emmett Till's death two weeks later, it sent a shockwave through the local community and the NAACP.

Voter Empowerment: Smith proved that the ballot was the most feared tool in the hands of the oppressed.
The "Forgotten" Martyr: His death is often cited by historians as the "prelude" to the movement, highlighting that the violence in Mississippi was systemic and targeted toward political agency.
Civil Rights Memorial: Today, his name is one of the 40 inscribed on the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama.

Filmography & Media

Because his case was "cold" for decades, much of the media surrounding Smith involves investigative documentaries seeking justice.

"Murder in Black and White: Lamar Smith" (2005): Directed by Keith Beauchamp, this documentary re-examined the evidence of the 1955 killing. Watch a clip via the Zinn Education Project.
"Un(re)solved" (PBS Frontline): An award-winning multimedia project that investigates over 150 cold cases from the Civil Rights era. Explore Lamar Smith's Case Profile.
"The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till": Smith’s murder is frequently featured as the essential context for the environment in Mississippi during the summer of 1955.

Bibliography & Documentation

The FBI Records: Under the Cold Case Initiative, the FBI released digitized files regarding the investigation into Smith's death. FBI Vault: Lamar Smith.
"Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi" by John Dittmer: This definitive history provides extensive context on Smith’s role in the RCNL.
The Civil Rights Memorial Handbook: Produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center, detailing the martyrs of the movement.

Clips: Speeches & Commemoration

While there are no known film clips of Lamar Smith speaking (as he was a private citizen in 1955), his story has been kept alive through the oral histories of his family and modern activists:

Commemorative Clip: Brookhaven Memorial Ceremony – Often local news covers the annual vigils held at the courthouse where he fell.
Educational Short: The Death of Lamar Smith – The National Park Service often features his story in civil rights history series.

Sources

Dick Gregory: A Pioneer of Comedy, Activism, and Social Change

"Y'all act like this country was good and then got bad This country ain't never been no good!"

—Dick Gregory

Dick Gregory was far more than just a comedian; he was a trailblazer who masterfully blended humor with a relentless pursuit of social justice. From the smoky clubs of the 1960s to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, Gregory used his voice, wit, and unwavering conviction to challenge the status quo and inspire generations.

Who Was Dick Gregory?

Born Richard Claxton Gregory in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 12, 1932, Dick Gregory's early life was marked by poverty and hardship. Despite these challenges, he excelled in track and field, earning a scholarship to Southern Illinois University. It was during his time in the military, however, that his comedic talent began to emerge.

Gregory rose to prominence in the early 1960s, breaking racial barriers in the stand-up comedy world. He was one of the first Black comedians to perform regularly for white audiences, refusing to tailor his act to stereotypical expectations. Instead, he tackled racial injustice, segregation, and inequality head-on, using satire and sharp observational humor to make his audience confront uncomfortable truths. His performances were not just entertainment; they were powerful social commentary.

A Legacy of Activism

Gregory's commitment to activism grew in parallel with his comedic career. He became a prominent voice in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and actively participating in protests for voting rights, desegregation, and economic equality. He often put his career and personal safety on the line, enduring arrests and even a shooting attempt.

Beyond civil rights, Gregory was a vocal advocate for a wide range of causes, including peace, anti-war movements (especially against Vietnam), Native American rights, women's rights, and health and nutrition. He undertook numerous hunger strikes to draw attention to political and social issues, demonstrating his profound dedication to nonviolent protest. His activism wasn't just about speaking out; it was about living his principles.

Filmography

While primarily known for his stand-up and activism, Dick Gregory also appeared in several films and television productions:

Sweet Love, Bitter (1967) - Playing Richie "The Kid" Williams.
The Dick Gregory Show (1968) - A short-lived but impactful television variety show.
Melvin Van Peebles' Don't Play Us Cheap (1972) - As a character named David.
The Hot Chick (2002) - A cameo appearance.
Children of the Struggle (2004) - As himself.
The Man from Earth (2007) - As himself (archival footage).

Bibliography

Dick Gregory was a prolific writer, penning several influential books that explored his life, his views on society, and his health philosophies:

Nigger: An Autobiography (1964) - This groundbreaking autobiography, co-written with Robert Lipsyte, offered a raw and honest look at his life and experiences with racism. Nigger: An Autobiography
Write Me In! (1968) - Chronicling his presidential campaign as a write-in candidate.
No More Lies: The Myth and the Reality of American History (1971) - A critical examination of American history.
Dick Gregory's Natural Diet for Folks Who Eat: Cookin' with Mother Nature (1973) - Focusing on his insights into nutrition and healthy living.
Shame on You! (1978) - Further exploring social commentary.
Up from Nigger (1976) - A later reflection on his autobiography and evolving perspectives.
Callus on My Soul: A Memoir (2000) - A more comprehensive memoir covering his life and activism. Callus on My Soul

Comedy and Speech Clips

To truly understand Dick Gregory's impact, listening to his comedy and speeches is essential. His delivery was unique—calm, cutting, and profoundly insightful.

Early Stand-Up (Audio): Listen to some of his groundbreaking early routines that challenged racial norms. Dick Gregory - Stand-Up Comedy
Interview on the Mike Douglas Show (1972): See him discuss his views and activism. Dick Gregory on Mike Douglas Show
Speech on Racism (Various Clips): Gregory's speeches were often interwoven with humor, making complex issues accessible. Dick Gregory Speaks on Racism

Conclusion

Dick Gregory passed away on August 19, 2017, but his legacy endures. He proved that comedy could be a powerful weapon against injustice, that one voice could spark change, and that true freedom requires constant vigilance and unwavering courage. He was a satirist, a humanitarian, a health guru, and a fearless advocate—a true giant whose influence continues to resonate in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.