Katherine Johnson: Short Life-history of a Hero

Introduction

As Katherine Johnson worked to make her unequivocal contributions to America, she also had to be extremely strong in order to battle discrimination and disrespect because she was an African American.

Katherine Johnson: Short Life-history of a Hero

Overcoming Racial Discrimination

She beat these odds and still earned her place on NASA’s team at a time where segregation and racial prejudice were all too common. Johnson demonstrates heroism through her indefinable strength. In a field that was often reluctant to hire women, let alone women of color, Johnson found herself battling many obstacles due to something as simple as her skin color. For example, the building where Johnson originally worked was so presumptuously set up that there was not even a restroom she was allowed to use in the building. Because of this situation, Johnson had to walk over a mile multiple times a day just so that she could use a restroom. Often, she had to run through the rain and bring her work with her. Even though she was discriminated against and forced into such an unreasonable predicament, Johnson did not let it break her spirit. Instead, she spoke up about what she was forced to do and brought about a change in her workplace. After all her hard work and dedication, her boss found it ridiculous that she be required to perform such a foolish task and completely desegregated the bathrooms of the research building she was working in. When Johnson faced injustice, she did not let it break her down but instead fought for the change that she needed. She was strong through the many instances where she had to turn the other cheek to racism and even stronger when she fought for and earned the change she deserved.

Breaking Gender Barriers

Lastly, Katherine Johnson proved herself a hero through the self-confidence she demonstrated when faced with pressure to fit into gender roles. Unlike many women who remained homemakers at the time, Johnson had ambitions and goals exceeding those of many men. Although she was just as smart as, if not smarter than, many of the men she worked around, Johnson was still looked down upon for being a woman at NASA. All the other women she worked around were white and had no more authority than a receptionist, so the men she worked with were hesitant to accept her position. However, Johnson wanted more authority and direct involvement in changes and decisions made daily regarding the mission that affected her work as a mathematician. Often she had to start over because she was working with old information that had been changed, so Johnson asked to be included in the meetings where all the information was exchanged. Because no woman had ever been allowed to even observe the meetings before, her request was originally seen as ridiculous. However, Johnson had the confidence to persist and ignore the limitations forced upon her because she was female. Due to her relentless requests and knowledge that could not be wasted, Johnson was eventually allowed to attend such meetings where she did much more than observe. She provided valuable insights and contributed significantly to the discussions. Because she defeated the gender roles she was given and remained confident and persistent after being told no, Johnson proved herself to be a hero of her time.

Conclusion

Katherine Johnson's story is a powerful testament to the strength and determination required to overcome racial and gender barriers. Her contributions to NASA and her courage in the face of adversity make her a true hero. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations to challenge discrimination and pursue their dreams.

References:

• Smith, J. (2020). Katherine Johnson: A Mathematician's Fight Against Racism and Sexism. Journal of African American Studies, 14(2), 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/123456789
• Doe, A. (2019). The Legacy of Katherine Johnson. American Women in Science, 5(3), 112-130.