Hidden Figures

In the 1960s, drastic changes began to unfold for women. In the film, “Hidden Figures,” it shows the involvement of three African-American mathematician women working with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on the “Friendship 7.” The three women; Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, compute complex math problems along with a group of black women. Segregation did not just occur in public, but in the workplace at NASA. These women had to overcome racism and sexism to become engineers at NASA. Throughout the film, these women were able to become part of the change within NASA and destroy barriers of negative stereotypes especially about being a woman. 

As the film took place in the 1960s, technology was not yet advanced enough to compute complex math problems so the women were the “computers.” Colored women were only hired as temp employees, because of segregation. In order to make changes the three women had to work around the barriers of not just being a woman but being of color. Dorothy Vaughn has been doing the work of a supervisor, but was not recognized as one. Vaughn decides to gain knowledge of Fortran, an IBM computer, which would leave Vaughn and the women without at job. Vaughn succeeds at being an expert of the machine and is promoted as a supervisor. Katherine Johnson was temporarily moved up to do calculations for the launching of  “Friendship 7,” leaving an impression on the team of NASA. Johnson’s intelligence caught the attention of her boss, Al Harrison, and gave her higher clearance to do calculations for “Friendship 7.” Mary Jackson was encouraged to enter NASA’s engineering program, but she finds out that for a black woman she requires higher education. Jackson responded, “Every time we have a chance to get ahead, they move the finish line. Every time.” Jackson went into court to be granted night classes at an all white school. 

At the climax of the film, Al Harrison finds out during Johnson’s outburst of rage that she has been running half a mile and back to go to the bathroom each day. There was no bathroom for her in the building as it was “Whites Only.” Harrison goes to the sign for “Colored Bathroom” and had torn it, announcing there will be no more segregation in NASA. After this scene the workers began to treat each other as equals. I believe that once the workers put their differences aside, they realized they had one thing in common, which was to win against the Soviets.

At the end of the film it is revealed that Johnson went on to do calculations for the space launching for Apollo 11 and the Space Shuttle. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Mary Jackson graduated from the University of Virginia and was the first black female engineer at NASA. Dorothy Vaughn became the first African-American supervisor for the Analysis and Computational Division (ACD). 

I love that the women are independent and are not afraid to say what they want to say. For example, a man questioned that he was surprised NASA would hire a woman. Johnson responded, “So, yes, they let us women do some things at NASA, Mr. Johnson, and it’s not because we wear skirts-it’s because we wear glasses.” It was astonishing that a man would say such a thing. I can only imagine just how difficult it can be for a woman to have to juggle both work and household of kids on their own. I admired seeing women put all their energy in work not just for themselves, but to create changes for a better future for their children. The three women went down in history for involvement in space travel and women empowerment. These women are inspiring, courageous, and help motivate other women to fight for what they want. I highly respect these women, they are heroes. 

Work Cited

Hidden Figures. Dir. Theodore Melfi. Perf. Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, Octavia Spencer. 2016. Twentieth Century Fox. 2016. DVD.