What happened in the book hidden figures?

Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of NASA’s Brilliant Black Women

“Hidden Figures” – you’ve probably heard of the book and the movie, right? Well, it’s a story that really sticks with you. It shines a light on the African-American women who were the brains behind some of NASA’s earliest and most important missions during the Space Race. These women, often called “human computers,” were absolute whizzes at math. What’s even more amazing is that they did all this while battling both racial and gender discrimination. Talk about overcoming the odds!

The Jim Crow South and the “West Computers”

Picture this: it’s the 1950s and 60s in Hampton, Virginia. The country was still very segregated. These women were working at Langley Research Center, the heart of NASA’s operations. Back then, it was still called NACA. Because of Jim Crow laws, Black employees had to use separate bathrooms and cafeterias. Can you imagine? The African-American female mathematicians were stuck in a segregated unit called “West Area Computing,” or, more simply, the “West Computers.” But even though they were treated unfairly, these women were incredibly talented and dedicated. They were determined to prove what they could do.

Meet the Stars of the Story

The book and movie mainly tell the stories of three incredible women: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Let’s dive into their stories:

• Katherine Johnson (née Coleman): Katherine was a math genius, plain and simple. She started at Langley in 1953, and her skills in analytic geometry were so impressive that she quickly got pulled into the Space Task Group. She was basically doing rocket science before it was even a thing! Katherine did the crazy complex calculations for the first American spaceflights, including those of Alan Shepard and John Glenn. And get this: John Glenn himself trusted her so much that he asked her to double-check the IBM computer’s calculations before his orbital flight. Now that’s trust! Later on, she worked on Apollo 11 and the Space Shuttle program. She always said that her work on the Apollo moon missions was what she was most proud of.
• Dorothy Vaughan: Dorothy started at NACA in 1943. She was assigned to the West Area Computing unit. She quickly showed she was a natural leader. In 1949, she became the acting supervisor of the West Computers, making her the first African-American supervisor at NACA. She was a fierce advocate for her team, fighting to get them promotions and better pay. When electronic computers started showing up, Dorothy saw the writing on the wall. She taught herself and her team FORTRAN programming to make sure they wouldn’t become obsolete. Talk about being proactive! Later, she became the head of the programming section of the Analysis and Computation Division (ACD) at Langley.
• Mary Jackson: Mary’s story is just as inspiring. She started as a computer, but she dreamed of becoming an engineer. To do that, she needed to take graduate-level courses at a whites-only high school. So, she petitioned the City of Hampton for an exception. And guess what? She won! After completing the courses, she became NASA’s first female African-American engineer in 1958. Throughout her career, she worked hard to help other women get hired and move up in NASA’s science, engineering, and math departments.

Beating the Odds

These women had to jump over so many hurdles because of their race and gender. They had to deal with segregated facilities, some pretty nasty attitudes from their colleagues, and constant battles for recognition. But they didn’t let any of that stop them. They were incredibly talented and determined. They not only killed it in their jobs but also paved the way for other African-American women to follow in their footsteps.

A Little Hollywood Magic

Now, while “Hidden Figures” did a fantastic job of bringing these women’s stories to light, it’s important to remember that the movie took some liberties with the truth. For example, that scene where Al Harrison smashes the “Colored Ladies Room” sign? Didn’t actually happen. And while the movie made it seem like the women were all besties, they were more like really supportive colleagues. Also, Christine Darden, another amazing woman who worked at NASA, wasn’t in the movie, even though she’s in the book.

Their Lasting Impact

The story of the “Hidden Figures” has had a huge impact. It’s inspired so many people and has brought attention to the contributions of people who are often overlooked in STEM. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson have all been honored for their work, including receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. NASA has even named buildings after them. Their story reminds us that diversity and inclusion are super important for making progress in science and technology. The Katherine Johnson Computational Research Facility opened at NASA Langley Research Center in September 2017. And in 2021, NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. was renamed the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters. How cool is that?

“Hidden Figures” is more than just a history lesson. It’s a story about how strong the human spirit can be. It’s a celebration of these amazing women and a reminder that we need to recognize and value the talents of everyone, no matter their background. These women weren’t just hidden figures; they were hidden gems, and it’s about time their stories were told.