Trail Blazing Black Women: Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson, mid-1960s. (Photo courtesy of NASA) Katherine Johnson stands out among the many notable individuals who have contributed to the space program’s storied past. A Black American mathematician, Katherine made tremendous strides in advancing space exploration efforts during the Space Race. Her calculations were crucial in sending humans into space, and her remarkable narrative has won over millions of hearts and served as the basis for the highly praised film “Hidden Figures”. Path to Success The road to stardom for Katherine Johnson was a winding one. As a Black American woman pursuing a career in mathematics in the male-dominated profession, she had several challenges after being born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. But she kept going because she was so dedicated to her profession. Johnson encountered racial segregation and prejudice early in her career when working in a segregated computer room. But her intelligence was so great that she was hired as a research mathematician by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of NASA, in 1953. Crucial Role in the Space Race Katherine Johnson was at the height of her influence during the Space Race, an American-Soviet struggle for dominance. At the Langley...