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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Hidden Figures summary
The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians who Helped Win the Space Race
13 mins
Brief summary
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the untold story of the African American women mathematicians who played a vital role in the American space program. Their perseverance and contributions paved the way for equality and progress in the STEM industry.
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Hidden Figures
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The story of black women mathematicians at Langley began in the 1940s.
Neil Armstrong didn’t fly to the moon and back on his own. There were many people hard at work behind the scenes, most of whom haven’t had their stories told until now.
Before it became the National Aeronautics and Space Agency in 1958, NASA was known as NACA, or the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and its research headquarters were located at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, in Hampton, Virginia.
NACA, founded in 1917, was originally a place where warplanes and other kinds of machines for flight were developed. This all changed during the Cold War with the Soviet Union when NACA turned into NASA and devoted itself to winning the space race.
In the 1940s, Langley hired its first black employees as “computers,” since they would be performing mathematical computations. Prior to the forties, racial discrimination prevented these jobs from being accessible to black people.
But this changed thanks in part to pioneering civil-rights activists like A. Philip Randolph, who threatened to send 100,000 protesters to march on the capitol to bring discrimination to national attention.
So, in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, which desegregated the defence industry, and Executive Order 9346, which created the Fair Employment Practices Committee.
While these orders allowed black women to work at Langley, it was still a segregated workplace. In fact, the first group of black women there were known as the “West Computers,” since they all worked on the west side of Langley’s campus, separate from the white employees.
Nonetheless, they were still at the heart of Langley’s operations, and their story is a vital part in key twentieth-century developments like World War II, the Cold War and the space race, as well as the civil rights movement and the transition to electronic computing.
Some of these women have been duly recognized, such as Katherine Johnson, who was given the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2015. Yet the majority of the world is still unaware that there was a team of all-black, all-female math whizzes helping the United States explore space.
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What is Hidden Figures about?
Hidden Figures (2016) reveals the untold story of the black female mathematicians who helped send John Glenn on his first orbit around the Earth and Neil Armstrong to the moon. These courageous, trailblazing women answered the call of duty by leaving their teaching jobs in segregated Southern schools behind and helping to shape the modern space program.
Hidden Figures Review
Hidden Figures (2016) by Margot Lee Shetterly is a captivating account of the untold stories of the brilliant African-American women who played a pivotal role at NASA during the Space Race. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- It sheds light on the remarkable contributions and challenges faced by these trailblazing women, making it an inspiring and historically significant read.
- The book showcases the intersectionality of gender and race in the fight for equal opportunities, sparking important discussions about diversity and inclusion.
- With its riveting storytelling and meticulous research, the book keeps readers engaged, ensuring that the often overlooked stories are not forgotten.
Who should read Hidden Figures?
- Women in engineering
- Those interested in the true history of the space program
- Students of politics, science and history
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Hidden Figures FAQs
What is the main message of Hidden Figures?
Hidden Figures highlights the untold stories of African American women mathematicians and their invaluable contributions to NASA.
How long does it take to read Hidden Figures?
The reading time for Hidden Figures varies depending on your reading speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Hidden Figures a good book? Is it worth reading?
Hidden Figures is a must-read for anyone interested in the remarkable achievements of these extraordinary women. Highly recommended!
Who is the author of Hidden Figures?
Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of Hidden Figures.
What to read after Hidden Figures?
If you're wondering what to read next after Hidden Figures, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
- On the Move by Oliver Sacks
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
- The Wealth Money Can't Buy by Robin Sharma
- Get Better at Anything by Scott H. Young
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- Limitless Mind by Jo Boaler
- Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
- The Singularity Is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle