Is The Story Of Hidden Figures True

Alright, picture this: it's the 1960s, NASA's in a pickle. They're trying to launch John Glenn into orbit, but their computers are about as powerful as a calculator from a Happy Meal. So, who do they turn to? A bunch of brilliant, yet unsung, African-American women mathematicians. Sounds like a plot straight out of a feel-good movie, right? Well, grab your popcorn, folks, 'cause that's exactly what happened. But was it all just a Hollywood fairytale? Let's dive in and find out if the story of Hidden Figures is true.

Meet the Real-Life Heroes

Our story begins in the segregated South of the 1960s. NASA's got a big problem: their computers, the size of a small apartment, are about as reliable as a used car salesman. Enter Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson - the real-life heroes of our tale. These women were part of NASA's West Area Computing unit, a group of African-American women who did the math that made space travel possible.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, I thought NASA had those fancy computers?" Well, yes, they did. But those computers were about as smart as a box of rocks. They needed humans to do the heavy lifting, and that's where our ladies came in. Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary were the original codebreakers, crunching numbers and solving equations that would send astronauts to the stars.

Breaking Barriers, One Equation at a Time

But it wasn't all just math and no fun. These women faced challenges that went beyond the numbers. Katherine had to run half a mile to use the "colored" restroom, and Dorothy had to fight to keep her job when the computers started taking over. Mary, well, she had to go to court to be allowed to take a course at an all-white school. Talk about adding drama to their already stressful jobs!

But they didn't let it stop them. Katherine calculated trajectories for NASA's first American in orbit, John Glenn. Dorothy became the first African-American manager at NASA. And Mary? She became the first African-American female engineer at NASA. All while dealing with segregation and sexism. Now that's what I call making history!

Hollywood's Turn

So, how did this amazing story make it to the big screen? Well, it all started with a book. Margot Lee Shetterly wrote Hidden Figures, a non-fiction account of these women's lives. It was a bestseller, and before you could say "Houston, we have a problem," Hollywood was knocking on her door.

The movie, also called Hidden Figures, hit the screens in 2016. It was a smash hit, grossing over $200 million worldwide. And it was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. But the big question on everyone's mind was: how much of it was true?

Fact or Fiction?

Alright, let's get down to business. Was the movie a faithful retelling of these women's lives, or was it just a bunch of Hollywood hogwash? Well, the good news is, it's mostly true. The movie took some creative liberties, but the core story is solid.

Hidden Figures Wallpapers (18 images) - WallpaperCat

For instance, the movie shows Katherine running to the restroom and having to fight to use the white women's restroom. That really happened. The movie also shows Dorothy fighting to become the manager of her unit. That happened too, although the timeline was a bit different.

But there were some changes. For example, the movie shows Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary working together to solve a problem with the Friendship 7 mission. In reality, they worked on different parts of the mission, but they didn't all work together in the same room. And Mary didn't actually have to go to court to take her engineering course. But hey, Hollywood's gotta Hollywood, right?

Legacy Lives On

So, there you have it. The story of Hidden Figures is mostly true. These women really did break barriers and make history. And their legacy lives on. NASA's named a building after them, there's a street in their hometown named after them, and they've all received numerous awards and honors.

But perhaps the most important thing is that their story has inspired a new generation of girls to pursue careers in STEM. Because if Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary could do it in the face of segregation and sexism, imagine what you can do with the opportunities available today.

So, next time you look up at the stars, remember these women. They didn't just crunch numbers, they made history. And their story, whether on the big screen or in a history book, is one that deserves to be told.