StoryCorps: Barbara Lawrence

StoryCorps: Barbara Lawrence

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Robert Henry Lawrence Junior is a Chicago institution in his own right.

He served in the United States Air Force and became the first African-American astronaut, but unfortunately never made it into space.

His wife, Barbara Cress Lawrence, recently shared his story with her sister Lorne Cress Love as part of the StoryCorps Griot Initiative

The project aims to capture the oral history of everyday African-Americans.

She says Robert Lawrence faced many prejudices in his position.

One incident she witnessed came with the initial reaction to his appointment, and the local media’s first phone calls.

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