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- Should we leave the ‘Space Race’ to the billionaires?
Should we leave the ‘Space Race’ to the billionaires?
It might be an idea to fix the issues on the ground first #justsaying
Carra Santos
August 10, 2021
I was recently discussing the ‘billionaire space race’ with a friend and I came across ‘Whitey on the Moon’, the famous spoken-word piece from the artist Gil Scott-Heron about his feelings on the first Moon Landing in 1969.
His words communicate how, despite the great ambition and achievement being pursued for the advancement of all humankind, it was still a source of unhappiness and frustration. Many on the ground were experiencing ongoing hardship, and believed the space-race to be a distraction for the wealthy and a waste of money they desperately needed:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
I was already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that shit wasn't enough
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hm! Whitey's on the moon)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)
You can watch/listen to it on YouTube, and read an interesting take on it here.
Reading it myself, I can only begin to imagine how recent space pursuits might exacerbate these feelings. Particularly when, this time, they seem so very disconnected from the current needs of all humankind - regardless of the narrative presented.
And especially given that, in all these years, so little has changed for so many still struggling here on Earth.
Of course, this is before we’ve even got to talking about the environmental aspect of it all. That’s a whole other discussion…
So, while (unfortunately) this version still holds up pretty well for the people on the ground today, I wonder how the 2021 version would go.
Who would be today’s writers - people with disabilities, conservationists, gig workers, the elderly, the working poor, the unemployed victims of AI automation?
So many different needs.
But it occurs to me that they might have one suggestion in common: that we wave the billionaires off as they make for the moon, then leave them there.
I’d see their point.