Hidden Figures

The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of AmericaΓÇÖs greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson,Octavia SpencerJanelle MonaeKirsten Dunstand Kevin Costner. Before John Glenn orbited the earthor Neil Armstrong walked on the moona group of dedicated female mathematicians known as ΓÇ£human computersΓÇ¥ used pencilsslide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rocketsand astronautsinto space. Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American womensome of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the SouthΓÇÖs segregated public schoolsthey were called into service during the labor shortages of World War IIwhen AmericaΓÇÖs aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenlythese overlooked math whizzes had a shot at jobs worthy of their skillsand they answered Uncle SamΓÇÖs callmoving to HamptonVirginia and the fascinatinghigh-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. Even as VirginiaΓÇÖs Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterpartsthe women of LangleyΓÇÖs all-black ΓÇ£West ComputingΓÇ¥ group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold Warand complete domination of the heavens. Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold Warthe Civil Rights Movement and the Space RaceHidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy VaughanMary JacksonKatherine Johnson and Christine Dardenfour African American women who participated in some of NASAΓÇÖs greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challengesforged alliances and used their intellect to change their own livesand their countryΓÇÖs future.