The Space Race

The Space Race is a documentary about the efforts of the first Black scientists, engineers, and pilots to overcome social injustice and enter the field of space exploration. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the film examines how the competition between the United States, Russia, and Cuba to send the first Black man into space became a tool for ideological propaganda. It highlights the experiences of individuals such as Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight, and Charles Bolden, who navigated the complexities of civil rights struggles while being used as political symbols in a global power struggle.

The film was directed by Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza. In the chronology of Cortés's work, this project followed her 2023 film Little Richard: I Am Everything. The production was a collaboration between several companies, including National Geographic Documentary Films and The Kennedy/Marshall Company, with a screenplay written by Mark Monroe. The cast features Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight Jr., and Charles Bolden appearing as themselves. This 91-minute production originated in the United States and was released on June 12, 2023.