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Hidden Figures Summary

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Hidden Figures, is a very eye opening and positive read. The book goes into significant detail of the civil rights movement involving the fighting for racial equality along with the gender inequality that was prominent during the 1950’s and 60’s. It encompasses the racial and gender bias conflicts that individuals experienced firsthand along with the triumphs that were celebrated every time a new means of equality was achieved. Covering the Supreme Court decisions that resulted in females and African Americans receiving minor promotions in the workforce, to the desegregation of the school system, and of giving all children the opportunity for a better education. The difficulties these individuals in the book faced were truly immense. Not only …show more content…

Some of these experiences I can relate to my personal life. Maybe the time and state of our country in terms of hard work and determination hasn’t changed as much as some individuals think it has. If anything, the need for an education, especially a college degree is more necessary than ever. The amount of jobs available to those who are uneducated or lack a degree are decreasing all the time. Of those jobs that are still available to those without a formal education, there are even fewer that are “well paying”. Many of these jobs are only paying minimum wage, which makes it extremely difficult to live and thrive. The annual earnings of a minimum wage worker today are $15,080 at the current federal minimum wage that is $7.25 per hour (UC Davis Center). Between groceries, taxes, bills, and other payments, this annual salary simply doesn’t provide for ends meeting. If you find yourself in this situation, you won’t have any extra money for certain wants and needs or even the means necessary for supporting a family. During the time that the story took place, African Americans desperately needed to receive an education, otherwise they’d be working in underpaid labor jobs that were devoid of respect. If African Americans wanted to have any material possessions and financial security, then an education was required. In this case, America hasn’t …show more content…

Katherine Johnson felt that she’d never be able to become an engineer because of her being an African American woman. However, she decided to fight for what she believed in, equality. I feel this is what’s so great about engineering. You may see other careers out there that focus on media or some social aspect, in these areas you are judged more on your appearance. With engineering, everyone is working for the same reason. Everyone has the same purpose. That purpose being to fix, design, or create something for a common goal. This is the usual when dealing with technology and its advancements. I believe that engineers are judged more on their work and abilities than on their appearance which is how it should be in any field. Engineers also can go nearly anywhere and find a job. This is just one of several reasons why I hope to achieve an engineering

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He had to take some of his children out of private school.” (Coates 30). Coates shows that the black population’s wealth was taken away by America. Black populations have to work twice the hard or more to achieve the same goals the white populations and most of their wealth were taken .Even though the black population was aware that they were trick and ripped off by the seller but they can’t do anything about it.

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We think that without an education, we won’t have a job. We think that the smarter you are, the more money you have. Different people are good at different things you put them to work and it clicks right away and you love your job you’re not going to think of it as a job it’s going to be a hobby you get paid for. You’ll never work a day in your life if you enjoy your job. That’s what people should be looking for something that you enjoy doing.

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Hidden Figures is a film that tells the story of three African American women who played essential roles at NASA during the 1960s. Katherine, the main character, is a scientist at NASA working to do the math required to launch a rocket into space. She struggles because as an African American woman trying to get people to give her the respect she deserves. Many scenes show the hardships that she had to go through in order through a normal day. This essay will be exploring three main communication concepts found in the film:

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Blacks need to receive better education so that they can go as far as they want to in life and so that they can be as successful (or even more), as any other

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Ming Yang English 04 Mr. Lance February 15, 2022 Word Count: 1039 Untold Stories Hidden Figures was written in 2016 by the author Margot Lee Shetterly, and it follows the story of three African American women Katherine Jackson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan. Shetterly wrote this story to capture the untold stories of these amazing women. The movie came out in 2017, and it was directed by Theodore Melfi. While the movie Hidden Figures aims to de-center some of the White eurocentric ideology through characterization, it also captures the discrimination African American women faced living in the 1960s.

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The ones seen as most unqualified in a time of deep segregation against African Americans and women were the ones who were the most qualified to solve the math used in the movie; they were just as qualified as any white male was to solve those equations. Overall, the math in the movie represented actual math faced at the time and symbolized the actual fight for segregation that occurred at the time and still occurs today. The Figures in Hidden Figures

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Although the characters counter numerous stereotypes, the movie fails to portray the events and climate that informed these experiences. Throughout Hidden Figures, the directors have chosen to paint the civil rights movement into the story 's backdrop, ultimately downplaying its eminence and the significant ramifications that would impact the lives of these women. In doing so, the film portrays the pursuit of justice based on merit and not humanity alone. Humiliation, insult, discrimination, and embarrassment filled the lives of blacks all around the country. They were living as second-class citizens in a misinformed time of separate but "equal".

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There are many example of racial inequalities in the film “Hidden Figures”. Most of them are on the three main female African American workers. The majority of the racism we see is on the main character, Katherine Johnson. She works for NASA in a mostly all-white workspace. She is the smartest mind there and is even smarter than a computer.

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Representation and portrayal of real-life experiences of marginalized people are often polarizing as there is a concern regarding the work's authenticity. Hidden Figures, a movie adapted from the novel written by Margot Lee Shetterly, provides an excellent pro-feminist and culturally critical re-telling of the lives of 3 of NASA’s most influential black female mathematicians during the civil rights era. The feminist lens is a critical theory based upon ideas of sex, gender, race, discrimination and equality which acknowledge the presence of power systems in place to oppress individuals based on these core concepts. The lens also proposes that when these power systems and forms of oppression are acknowledged, understanding and advocacy can occur (Egbert and Roe). As such, when one applies the feminist lens to Hidden Figures, it is seen to be very pro-feminist.

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The film follows several highly intelligent, highly educated Black women who work at NASA during the 1960’s, when segregation was still largely in effect. The ladies succeeded mainly because of their intelligence, intuition, work ethic, and willingness to take every opportunity presented to them. While this film is intended to highlight the struggle of Black people (women especially) to overcome prejudice and unfair circumstances (hence the title Hidden Figures, which alludes to the fact that many great breakthroughs in knowledge etc is largely misattributed or lacking in proper credit given), the overarching message can be applied to anyone who is suffering from similar circumstances. The concept that stood out to me the most was when Dorothy

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Historically women were made to believe that they were lesser than men, like a butterfly in a jar, females were never allowed to flutter freely. The movie Hidden Figures by Theodore Melfi, a 2016 film showcases the true stories of 3 black women, who escape the jar. Inspires women not to be overwhelmed by men and overcome obstacles. In a world where men are perceived to be more capable, the movie shows how women also significantly contributed to achieving the many accomplishments that America holds as their pride. Representing the women whose achievements were never publicized.

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Living where we live, you begin to comprehend that living off of $11.00 per hour including with your family will never suffice your needs. Getting a college degree can ensure the graduate a higher chance of being able to earn more financially. In the article “Why College Isn't And Shouldn't Have to be For Everyone” by Robert Reich, he states that “A degree from a prestigious university can open doors to elite business schools and law schools-and to jobs paying hundreds of thousands, if not millions. ”Even though Reich’s article is on the opposing side of the argument, he fails to overlook the fact that in the long run having a college degree will, and can open doors to many new opportunities. One of those opportunities is to be able get a well paying job that can earn more than the average non college graduate.

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College education doesn't guarantee employment. In 2012, there was a lot of evidence suggesting the education to work link being broken. (Allen, 2011) A lot of college graduates are searching for work today. A lot of college students feel that college is a waste of money.

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Women weren’t allowed to go to school, but now, here I am, in my senior year of college, about to get a bachelor’s degree. Every now and then, I would hear a comment from a man such as “Women belong in the kitchen” and I would be reminded that not so long ago, many of the things I do now, I wouldn’t have been able to do them. Society wasn’t so kind to Women in general, let alone a Black African American woman. Due to my status as a college student and not going working full time, I fall in the lower income category. As a college student, many would applaud that I work while going to school Full time.

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Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

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