feature: ‘hidden figures’ – forthcoming book and film about the unsung black women mathematicians who helped america and nasa win the space race

A forthcoming novel – and its film adaptation – are set to bring to light the unsung heros of America’s space race – Black Women! Margot Lee Shetterly’s upcoming narrative non-fiction book, ‘Hidden Figures’, will center on the cadre of African-American women who formed part of the country’s space work force during the 1940s through to the 60s – math wizards who provided the (then segregated) NASA with the raw computing power that the U.S. vitally needed to win the space race. Regarding the movie, filmmaker Ted Melfi is reportedly in talks to direct and the actresses allegedly in the running include Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson. Read more about Shetterly’s book here.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

Pictured: Mathematician Melba Roy, 1960. Courtesy NASA

Pictured: Dr. Christine Darden. Courtesy NASA