This year, saw the official release of a movie about three African-American Mathematicians who worked for NASA in the late 1950s during the Space Race. 

Hidden Figures is a movie based on a book of the same title written by Margot Lee Shetterly and introduced us to Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. 

These characters were stunningly played by the phenomenal Taraji P. Henson, Oscar award winner Octavia Spencer and singer turned actress Janelle Monae. Spencer also bagged an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this movie. 

Katherine Johnson (who is still alive by the way) is a Mathematician who, using her analytical geometry skills, was crucial in the calculation of flight trajectories for key missions at NASA. She was appropriately referred to as a ‘human calculator’. 

Dorothy Vaughan was the first African-American woman to be appointed a supervisor while Mary Jackson was the first black female engineer at NASA. 

These black women defied the odds by making their marks in the so-called difficult and challenging fields of mathematics and science during a time when people who looked like them were considered less human. 

Intelligent, brave and educated black women. I don’t know what else could sound any better!

I took some time out during Day 8 of my Women’s Month Appreciation series to celebrate these women and this must-see movie that celebrates and honours these legends who almost did not get the popular recognition they deseved.

Day 8 of my Women Appreciation series and today, I would like to remind you of a powerful movie released earlier this year that revealed the ‘Hidden Figures’ – The women who were instrumental towards a space mission that we all know about. 

A movie based on the book ‘Hidden Figures’ by Margot Lee Shetterly about African-American mathematicians who worked at NASA in the late 1950s. Funny how they were referred to as ‘human calculators’ as numbers, maths and science were their daily bread. 

It follows Katherine Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson) who was a mathematician that calculated the mission’s flight trajectories, the late Dorothy Vaughan (played by Oscar nominee Octavia Spencer) who was NASA’s first black female supervisor and Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monae) who was an aerospace engineer at NASA. 

And one of these women, Katherine Johnson  is still alive at 99 years! 

These bold, smart and strong women stood the test of time by proving their competencies in the so-called ‘diffucult’ maths and science related fields during a time when black people were severely marginalised. 

One movie I will not get tired of speaking about, praising, writing about and to recommend. One to be treasured for collector’s items. 

In the words of Taraji P. Henson ‘These women are now hidden figures no more!’ 

A very happy Women’s Month to you! 

#KatherineJohnson

#DorothyVaughan

#MaryJackson

#NASALegends

For making Maths and Science so appealing and attractive!