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US Navy’s First Black Female Tactical Air Pilot Earns Wings of Gold in Texas

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The U.S. Navy’s first Black female tactical air (TACAIR) pilot received her Wings of Gold July 31, marking a significant milestone for Naval Aviation.

Virginia native Lt. j.g. Madeline G. Swegle was designated a naval aviator and received her Wings of Gold with 25 classmates during a small ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas.

Swegle is assigned to the “Redhawks” of Training Squadron (VT) 21 under Training Air Wing 2 at NAS Kingsville and completed her final undergraduate TACAIR training flight in a T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft July 7. VT-21 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Matthew Maher presented Wings of Gold to each of his graduates during the ceremony.

Amidst the Navy’s response to the global pandemic, instructors and students adjusted to COVID-19 spread mitigation measures including sterilizing surfaces, wearing masks, and social distancing when practical. Despite these challenges, this is the largest graduating class of strike aviators in almost a decade.

Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Robert Westendorff oversees all undergraduate flight training from the command headquarters at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.

“We are all incredibly proud of Lt. j.g Swegle and the entire class,” Westendorff said. “This is a wonderful personal achievement but also a testament to their dedication and drive to succeed in the tactical air training pipeline. I wish them all every success at the next level learning to fly our fleet aircraft.” [

A 2017 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Swegle reported to Naval Aviation Schools Command at NAS Pensacola, Florida, where she completed Initial Flight Screening and Aviation Preflight Indoctrination. She completed Primary flight training with the “Boomers” of VT-27 at NAS Corpus Christi, and after selecting the TACAIR, or Strike, pipeline, Swegle progressed to Intermediate and Advanced training with VT-21.

Swegle is part of a new generation of TACAIR pilots to qualify on state-of-the art Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) unique to aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78): the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). She completed carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, May 20.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity to work harder and fly high performance jet aircraft in the fleet,” Swegle said. “It would’ve been nice to see someone who looked like me in this role; I never intended to be the first. I hope it’s encouraging to other people.”

Chief of Legislative Affairs Rear Adm. Sara Joyner, a career naval aviator, served as guest speaker for the ceremony via teleconference.

“I’m incredibly proud of Lt. j.g. Swegle and her classmates and am excited to welcome them all to the fleet,” Joyner said. “There’s more work to do to make sure that we recruit, train and retain a diverse force that represents the best and brightest of this nation. Everything in Naval Aviation requires teamwork, and you will be judged by your professionalism, demonstrated capability, and leadership.”

Swegle and her classmates will advance to graduate-level flight training at their respective fleet replacement squadrons. Specific platform selection for the TACAIR training pipeline (F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, or F-35C Lightning II) typically occurs shortly before the winging ceremony. Swegle will report to the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington to begin training as an EA-18G Growler pilot. VAQ-129 trains new naval aviators, naval flight officers, and naval aircrewmen in electronic warfare tactics, techniques, and procedures in preparation for their fleet assignments.

Swegle follows in the footsteps of Brenda E. Robinson, the Navy’s first African American female naval aviator. Robinson earned her Wings of Gold June 6, 1980 and was the 42nd woman to be designated a naval aviator.

“Lt. j.g. Swegle has proven to be a courageous trailblazer,” Commander, Naval Air Forces Vice Adm. DeWolfe “Bullet” Miller III said. “She has joined a select group of people who earned Wings of Gold and answered the call to defend our nation from the air. The diversity of that group—with differences in background, skill and thought—makes us a stronger fighting force.”

Chief of Naval Air Training trains the world’s finest combat quality aviation professionals, delivering them at the right time, in the right numbers, and at the right cost to a naval force that is where it matters, when it matters.

For more news from Chief of Naval Air Training, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnatra/ or www.cnatra.navy.mil. Get more information about the Navy from U.S. Navy facebook or twitter.

(U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

Black Life Texas

How Many Movies Will it Take to Win an Oscar?

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By Devon Mathews

Well, I don’t even know where to begin. Our beloved Black Queen of the screen, Angela Bassett, has been snubbed yet again by the Academy Awards for her role in “Wakanda Forever” at the 2023 Oscars. The “Black Panther” sequel, which celebrated the memory of the late Chadwick Boseman, is a worldwide phenomenon and nothing less than spectacular cinema as one of the top-grossing films of all time.

After being robbed of an Oscar for the iconic role of “Tina Turner” in “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” as well as portraying powerful roles in “Waiting to Exhale,” “Malcolm X,” “The Jackson 5” movie, and “American Horror Story,” Angela Bassett just can’t seem to catch a break for her amazing skill. She has the ability to bring the vitriol, pain, and no-nonsense prowess of the Black woman to the screen. The role of a strong Black woman and actually being one is a task; and no one can do it like she can. To dismiss her in her element is a dismissal to Black women everywhere and we should take note. It’s as if her 2023 Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was “enough for them” since the Academy first looked over her for the role of “Tina Turner” when she was first nominated in 1993. 

Her ill-fated loss succumbed to Jamie Lee Curtis for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” Breaking cultural barriers of their own within the Asian community, this film went on to be considered a contender for best of everything since it first premiered at SxSW 2022. And although I’m happy to see Asian actors and creators such as Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh win, I’m a bit on the fence about scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. 

As a professional actor, director, and producer, I pay extra close attention to performances, blocking and editing when watching TV and movies. Many people close to me refuse to watch anything with me because I watch with a different eye. I criticize, I ask questions, and I always look for context to make sure it all makes sense. Let me say this: I am a Jamie Lee Curtis fan and I absolutely love Michelle Yeoh. “Memoirs of a Geisha” is one of my favorite movies. And Yeoh’s ability to captivate audiences over the years has been remarkable. But so has Angela Bassett.

Instagram and Black Twitter alike are still fuming over the loss as well as all the articles and Tik Tok’s describing Bassett’s Black womanhood and hurt human reaction to Curtis’ initial win. She has been called a “petulant child,” yet no one focuses on how she stood and applauded Jamie after her speech. 

This is why it’s important that we make our voices heard. The Oscars throw rocks and hide their hands. Black women and Black artists should never have to minimize our power to make anyone comfortable in anything. And like Angela, I vow to present with that same fire when I break into Hollywood one day. Oscars still “So White … much?

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Black Life Texas

Legacy of Black Comedians

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hen you bring together four legendary comedians, their friends who are also comics, and some of their most loyal fans, you get a room filled with unbridled laughter and, surprisingly, a few tears. That is what Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood award ceremony attendees experienced Wednesday night at the Sunset Room Hollywood.

The luxury car brand and the culture publication honored Cedric the Entertainer, Kym Whitley, Deon Cole, and Guy Torry for their contributions to American culture, arts, and entertainment. The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of hip hop, as Guy Torry’s iconic documentary Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy explores the intersection of the music genre and Black comedy during a significant time in the 1990s.

“I want to thank Lexus for honoring Black comedians,” Guy Torry said during his funny and sometimes emotional acceptance speech. The “Phat Tuesdays” creator also thanked his older brother, comedian Joe Torry, for paving a path to success for him.

Anthony Anderson was on hand to present Cedric the Entertainer his award. “The Neighborhood” actor/comedian kept the crowd in stitches while paying homage to the comics he idolized, like Richard Pryor, Redd Fox, and Eddie Murphy.

Whitley, the only woman honored, expressed her gratitude through laughter and tears. She told the audience that after 35 years in the business, this is the first time she has been recognized or honored.
Honoree Deon Cole shared how he and his fellow comedians felt about being recognized for their hard work. “This means something to us. We’re excited to be here because we’re probably not going to get this again.”

Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Chris Spencer and award-winning media personality Tai Beauchamp hosted the event. Presenters included Bill Bellamy and Affion Crockett. Other notable attendees were Len Burnett, co-founder and CEO of Uptown Media Ventures, Richard Brooks, Lil Rel Howery, Mona Scott-Young, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Dondre Whitfield, and more.

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Black Life Texas

Chris Rock Breaks Silence with Netflix Special

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Rock the bells or should I say clap back on Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith? The internet is in a tumble as everyone has begun weighing in on Chris Rock’s new Netflix special, “Selective Outrage,” which aired on March 4, 2023. The comedic special, now in Netflix’s US Top 10, has Rock opening up about the night actor Will Smith went on stage and slapped him during the 2022 Oscar’s live broadcast. It was the slap heard around the world as many veterans in Black Hollywood (such as Tyler Perry and Denzel Washington) came to the emotional aid of Smith, who seemed to have a meltdown in response to Chris Rock’s joke about his wife’s bald head.

Will Smith was immediately in the crosshairs of a debate that forced people on either side of “was he right” or “was he wrong”? As African Americans, many of us grew up with our mothers and elders looking us dead in our eyes and saying, “keep your hands to yourself.” That was the lifelong cultural warning to not go around touching other people or their things, starting fights, and most definitely hitting someone unless it’s in self-defense. In this case and on the flip side of things, we were also told that “if someone hits you, hit them back!” Our good friend Chris Rock decided that he wasn’t going to retaliate physically and set himself up for the ultimate revenge… tan do the tune of $40 million.

As most celebrities with something major to share such as baby reveals and casting announcements, this is one hot topic that he bided his time over until the right opportunity came. Enter Netflix to the chat.

Social Media is reacting to the stand-up and with a good amount of controversy. Rock goes in on various subjects including his children, gender identifications, abortion, Meghan Markle, the Kardashian’s, and, of course, his infamous slap.

Yes, it’s great to hear what he has to say but some of his off-color comments have landed him in even more hot water than before. “Going on Oprah, ‘I didn’t know, I had no idea how racist they were,'” Rock said, referring to Meghan Markle’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. “It’s the royal family! You didn’t Google these motherf—–? What the f— is she talking about, she didn’t know. It’s the royal family! They’re the original racists!” 

Ummm, Chris, you could’ve kept that one. Don’t come for our original Black Princess! I’m sure they are having a royal fit in Buckingham Palace.

He then goes on to say, “The thing I have a problem with is the selective outrage. You know what I’m talking about. One person does something, they get canceled. Somebody else does the exact same thing, nothing. You know what I’m talking about… the kind of people who play Michael Jackson songs but won’t play R. Kelly. Same crime, one of them just has better songs.” 

Can you say cringe?

Head on over to Netflix to watch Selective Outrage and let me know your thoughts.

devon@blacklifetexas.com

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