What is the true story of hidden figures?

The Real Story Behind “Hidden Figures”: More Than Just a Movie

We all know “Hidden Figures,” right? The book, the movie – it’s become a household name. But honestly, the real story goes so much deeper than the Hollywood version. It’s about these incredible African-American women who were absolutely vital to NASA’s early wins. I mean, we’re talking about women who were essentially “human computers,” crunching the numbers that got planes in the air and astronauts into space. And get this – they were doing it all during a time when segregation and sexism were the norm. Talk about overcoming obstacles!

“West Computing”: A World Apart

Picture this: the 1940s. World War II is raging, and suddenly there’s a huge need for folks who can do serious math for aviation research. So, NACA – that’s NASA’s older sibling – starts hiring women. Among them were some seriously bright African-American women, many with math degrees. But because of those awful Jim Crow laws, they were stuck in a separate group called “West Area Computing,” or the “West Computers,” at Langley in Virginia. Separate offices, separate bathrooms – the whole nine yards. Can you imagine?

But here’s the thing: these women were brilliant. They quickly became indispensable, working on pretty much every research project at Langley. Wind tunnel data? Flight trajectories? Mathematical models? They handled it all. They were the secret sauce for understanding how planes and, later, spacecraft behaved.

Meet the Women Who Made History

The movie focuses on Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, and rightly so. But it’s important to remember they were part of a larger team of amazing women. Let’s take a closer look, and I want to introduce you to Christine Darden, too:

• Katherine Johnson (1918-2020): This woman was a math whiz, plain and simple. She joined NACA in ’53, and her skills in geometry landed her in the Flight Research Division. Accuracy was her middle name, and she could do mind-boggling calculations by hand. Seriously, she calculated trajectories for Alan Shepard’s and John Glenn’s flights. And get this – before Glenn’s orbit around the Earth, he insisted that Katherine double-check the computer’s numbers! That’s trust. She also worked on Apollo 11 and Apollo 13. After 33 years, she retired in ’86. What a legend!
• Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008): Dorothy started at Langley in ’43, and by ’49, she was the first African-American supervisor at NACA, leading the West Computers. She was a fierce advocate for her team, always pushing for promotions and better pay. And she was a forward-thinker. When she saw that computers were the future, she taught herself and her team FORTRAN programming. Talk about staying ahead of the curve! She also worked on the Scout Launch Vehicle Program. She retired in ’71.
• Mary Jackson (1921-2005): Mary joined NACA in ’51 as a “human computer.” But she had bigger dreams. She wanted to be an engineer. The catch? She needed to take graduate-level courses at the segregated Hampton High School. So, she petitioned the city for permission to attend classes with her white classmates, and she won! In ’58, she became NASA’s first black female engineer. She wrote a bunch of technical papers on airflow around aircraft. Later, she worked to help other women and minorities at NASA. She retired in ’85.
• Christine Darden (1942-): Christine started as a “human computer” at NASA in ’67. But she didn’t stay there for long. She became an aerospace engineer and a top expert on supersonic flight and minimizing sonic booms. She even got a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. She led a team of experts from industry and universities. And she was the first African-American woman at NASA Langley to reach the Senior Executive Service. She retired in 2007 as director of the Office of Strategic Communication and Education.

Fact vs. Fiction: Setting the Record Straight

Okay, “Hidden Figures” is a great movie, but it’s not a documentary. Some things were changed or simplified for the sake of the story. For example, Al Harrison (Kevin Costner’s character) is actually based on three different people. Also, the movie makes it seem like Katherine Johnson faced more blatant racism at NASA than she actually did. While segregation was definitely there, Katherine herself said she “didn’t feel the segregation at NASA” because everyone was so focused on their work. And that scene where she’s running across the campus to use the bathroom? Didn’t happen. She used the “white” restroom without even realizing it!

The book is more comprehensive than the movie, starting during World War II. The movie focuses on three out of the four women (Katherine Goble Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, while Christine Darden is left out).

Their Enduring Impact

These women overcame so much to make incredible contributions to the U.S. space program and to STEM in general. They shattered barriers, challenged stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations. Their story reminds us why diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity are so important.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson have been recognized for their work. Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019. NASA even named a facility after her. Darden also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019. Their legacy lives on, inspiring students and professionals to chase their dreams and make a difference. And honestly, that’s a story worth telling.