Library object: Hidden Figure
3 min
Hidden Figures tells the true story of three Black mathematicians at NASA who were victims of the Matilda effect. The film highlights their essential contributions to the U.S. space program.
The film follows Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson — three African-American mathematicians who played a crucial role in NASA’s space missions during the 1960s. Despite their essential contributions, they remained invisible for decades, victims of both gender and racial discrimination.
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Released in 2016, "Hidden Figures" was a worldwide success with over $235 million at the box office. It brought the story of these pioneers to a broad audience. Following the film, Katherine Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
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