Katherine Johnson — one of NASA’s “Hidden Figures” — a legend
Growing up, my grandmother would tell me stories of the obstacles she had to overcome. Today and always I believe that we need to celebrate strong women and honor them for all they have done to pave the way for a more equal society.
Today, we shed light on one of the most influential women in history — Katherine Johnson. Her story is inspiring and educational. She has accomplished so much during her time at NASA. She paved the way for equality in the field of STEM and opened the door for women to pursue their passions. Today, we will talk about who she is as well as her role at NASA’s Space Task Group. A group that played a major part in the country winning the space race against Russia during the Cold War.
Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on August 26, 1918. Katherine was the third of five children of James and Laura Johnson. James Johnson worked three jobs to support his family. Despite living in poverty and raised by parents who had no formal education at all, Katherine excelled at everything she attempted. She graduated from high school at age fifteen (the youngest member of her class), enrolled in Virginia State College by correspondence through its economy program (which required her to pay for her studies with money from her job as an usher at a theater), and graduated four years later with distinction.
Johnson’s celebrity came late in life, despite being one of the most important people on the Apollo board. Her mathematics is an important legacy that filled schools and programs with all her works, yet for too long, Johnson’s contributions to the space program were unknown to the public. And even though she didn’t make any of the flights, or walk on a different planet — she must be remembered as a pioneer for women and African-American people in STEM.
So who was she, you ask? Katherine Johnson was a pioneer and a “first” in many ways. Johnson was the first African American woman to be hired at NASA. Her work also helped put the first human space flight into space and made sure they returned safely home to Earth. Johnson received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 the highest civilian honor in the United States. In 2016 NASA honored her by naming a building, The Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility, after her. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race hit shelves on February 9. The story follows three black women mathematicians working at NASA in the early 1960s during its space exploration heyday, specifically Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. . A film based on the book was also released in 2016.
In 2020, we lost an American hero; her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.”
There’s a funny phenomenon in science and maths. It’s something I’ve noticed time and again. We begin to notice this pattern, that the most important names in the field are overwhelmingly male. I myself am guilty of this phenomenon… I was surrounded by names such as Einstein, Newton, and Tesla. I kept forgetting about the brilliant women such as Vera Rubin, Nettie Stevens, Henrietta Leavitt, Rosalind Franklin, Johnson, and so many others that ought to be just as famous. Looking at the remarkable work of Katherine Johnson we recognize that we need women researchers and scientists more than ever to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges so…..say their name and lift their stories, acknowledge the significant contributions made by women all around the world.
Class Planit, a platform built by an all-women team committed to the theme of Women Rising. Through the remarkable advancements in ClassPlanit in artificial intelligence and digital fields. We have a unique opportunity to make important contributions to society through our platform. By creating a cultural community within and outside of Class Planit, we have worked together every day to empower, embrace, support, and help successful careers of women teachers in STEM.
There’s no better time than now to recognize and celebrate women in United States history. Be a part of our Women Helping Women community that connects, celebrates, and supports women that empower and enrich the lives of all women.
