This feel-good drama takes us back to the 1960’s, when segregation and sexism was authorized, and computers were not objects, but people. Prior to IBM mainframes taking over NASA, three African-American women were considered crucial computers who worked at the NASA headquarters at Hampton, Virginia. They played an important role in the United States space program and went on without any recognition.
“Hidden Figures” demonstrates the struggles of segregation during the Civil Rights Movement and how it was dealt within NASA. This moment in history also marks NASA’s struggle to send astronauts into space for the first time. This film is based on a true story directed by Theodore Melfie who also wrote the script along with Allison Schroeder. Together they made a spectacular movie. The portrayal of the heroines Katherine Goble, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan was inspiring and motivational. These women were intelligent, brave and extremely talented.
The main character, Katherine Goble (played by Taraji P. Henson) was mathematician, and was taken out of the computer room and reassigned to the group that calculated the launch coordinates and trajectory for an Atlas rocket. The team consisted of only white men and one white woman, and Katherine did not receive a warm welcome. In one scene, while getting some coffee everyone in the room stared at her. The next day, there was another less sophisticated coffee pot with the a tag that said “colored.” Another dilemma she faced was going to the bathroom. There were no “colored” restroom in the building she worked in, therefore, in order to get a release, she had to run everyday to a different building where African Americans were allowed.
Dorothy (played by Octavia Spencer) and Mary (played by Janelle Monáe) faced a lot discrimination as well. Mary wished to be an engineer which was unlikely for an African-American, let alone a woman. Dorothy who was in charge of dozens of computers was denied, multiple times, promotion to become the supervisor. Dorothy was often snubbed by her supervisor.
“Hidden Figures” plays such an important role in American history. African American women working at NASA may not be a shocked today but in the 60’s, it was a huge deal. Must watch!
