A Hidden Figure of the Space Race: Katherine G. Johnson

Have you heard of Katherine G. Johnson? If you haven’t heard of her, it may be because she’s one of the “hidden figures” behind NASA’s work to send people into space. But she’s definitely worth knowing about! She achieved countless breakthroughs throughout her impressive career in math and science.

Johnson was born on August 26, 1918. At the young age of 13, she already showed an incredible talent for math. She was way ahead of her classmates and graduated with highest honors from West Virginia State College. She began teaching at a Black public school in Virginia.

As a Black woman growing up in the South, Katherine G. Johnson faced a lot of discrimination. When Johnson was growing up, many schools in the South were segregated. This meant that Black and white students attended separate schools. She was one of three Black students to integrate into the all-white graduate schools in West Virginia. She enrolled in the graduate math program, but stopped her studies to start a family. She went back to teaching, not realizing that her career path would shift drastically.

In 1952, a relative told her about an open job in the all-Black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA’s) Langley laboratory. This laboratory was responsible for working on new flight technology, including space travel. NACA would later become part of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). She got the job and spent four years analyzing data about a plane crash while learning the ins and outs of the mathematics of flying. Johnson and the other Black women working at NASA faced discrimination there. They worked in a separate department from their white female coworkers, and both groups of women were kept out of the main, all-male NASA workspaces. They had to fight extra hard to make their ideas and voices heard at NASA.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched a satellite called Sputnik 1 into Earth's orbit. This was the first satellite to be sent into space. The Space Race was on! The United States began funding NASA to compete with the Soviet Union. The United States wanted to be the first country to have a successful human space flight. Katherine G. Johnson contributed greatly to this effort. She wrote research papers that laid out many of the mathematical equations necessary for space travel.

Katherine G. Johnson is probably most known for her work on the orbital mission of John Glenn. He was set to be the first American to orbit around the Earth. But he did not trust all of the electronic machines that would control the path of his spaceship. These machines would sometimes malfunction. Glenn asked the engineers for Katherine G. Johnson’s help. He trusted her to check every single mathematical equation. She checked the numbers, and Glenn’s mission was a success! Now, there is a movie called Hidden Figures that tells the true story of how she and two other brilliant African American women made sure this mission was a triumph.

33 years of work and many research papers later, Johnson retired in 1986. She said, “I loved going to work every single day.” At the age of 97, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her important work at NASA.

Honoring King

Americans pay tribute to a leader’s legacy.

For many Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn’t just a "day off" from school or work. They will make it a "day on" and participate in community service projects in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Library of Congress

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King addresses a group of followers.

A Great Leader

King (1929-1968) was a famous civil rights leader. When King was growing up, the South was segregated, or separated by race. Black people did not have the same rights as white people. Under the law, they were not allowed to attend the same schools as white people and had to sit in the back seats of buses. Black people also had to use separate restrooms and drinking fountains.

When King was older, he worked to change those unjust laws. During the 1950s and 1960s, he gave speeches and organized peaceful marches and protests. Beginning in 1955, King led the famous Montgomery bus boycott. For 381 days, African Americans boycotted, or refused to use, public buses in the Alabama city. A year later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal.

King gained national attention from the boycott and, in 1963, delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. He told a crowd of more than 200,000 people in Washington, D.C., that his dream was for all people to be treated fairly and equally under the law. As a result of his work, civil rights laws were passed. Those laws protect the rights of all Americans.

A Day of Service

Many people celebrate King’s legacy on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with parades and other events. The legacy of a leader is something that person has accomplished that would benefit future generations. For King, that meant making the world a better place. Thousands more honor King by cleaning parks, volunteering at homeless shelters, and participating in other community service projects.

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve," King once said. By taking part in community service projects, Americans are able to keep this leader’s dream alive.

A Civil Rights Hero: Martin Luther King Jr.

• January 15, 1929: Born in Atlanta, Georgia

• August 28, 1963: Delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C.

• December 10, 1964: Becomes the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize

• April 4, 1968: Is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee

• January 20, 1986: Martin Luther King Jr. Day first observed as a national holiday

Sammy Davis Jr., an Exceptional Entertainer

Jay Bernstein Public Relations [Public domain]

Sammy Davis Jr.

Have you heard of a man named Sammy Davis Jr.? Sammy Davis Jr. overcame racism and bigotry to become one of the biggest entertainers in the world! Many people consider Sammy Davis Jr. to be one of the most legendary performers of the 20th century.

Davis was born on December 8, 1925 in New York City. At a young age, he went on the road with his father and uncle, who were entertainers. Sammy Davis Jr. learned to tap dance and started performing with them. He learned to play multiple instruments and became a skilled singer, dancer and comedian. His talent was unmatched by many. He quickly became the star of the show!

In 1943, Davis’s budding entertainment career was interrupted. He was drafted into the Army to fight in World War II. While in the Army, he experienced prejudice and even physical abuse from his fellow soldiers. He realized one way to protect himself from this form of hatred was to entertain. By being an entertainer in the army, he felt somewhat safer.

After the war ended, Davis picked up his performing career. He performed at nightclubs and started recording his own records. In 1947, his career reached new heights when he opened for Frank Sinatra, a well-known entertainer. They would remain close friends throughout their lives.

Dell Publishing [Public domain]

The Rat Pack with Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a star who had successful records and appeared in multiple television shows and films. He was also an important member of the Rat Pack, a group of famous entertainers which included Sinatra. Davis even took his talents to the stage and performed on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful and Golden Boy. But despite all this, Davis still experienced constant racial discrimination. Rather than quietly deal with it, he was outspoken about discrimination and acted on his beliefs. During the 1960s, he participated in the March on Washington and spoke out against racial prejudice. He refused to perform at segregated nightclubs. Many people saw his refusal to perform in these venues as the reason that Miami and Las Vegas nightclubs became desegregated. He also challenged biases by marrying Swedish actress May Britt, who was white. At the time, interracial marriage was illegal in 31 states. His legacy includes speaking out against racial prejudice and working hard to achieve his goals in the face of racism.

Davis continued sharing his many talents past the ‘60s. In 1972, he produced his most successful hit record, “The Candy Man.” It was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Before his death in 1990, he went on a final tour with Frank Sinatra and Liza Minelli, two legends in their own right. His legacy continues to live on through his many records, films, and biographies.

Alexa Canady, Breaking Barriers in Medicine

Alexa Canady, the first African American woman neurosurgeon in the United States

Have you ever wanted to become a doctor? If so, you may want to follow Alexa Canady’s path. Alexa Canady was the first female African American neurosurgeon in the United States!

Canady was born on November 7, 1950. At a young age, her parents taught her the importance of hard work and perseverance. This life lesson stayed with her throughout her schooling and career.

Canady went to the University of Michigan and studied zoology. During her junior year of college, she did a summer program that inspired her to become a doctor of some kind. After college, she went to medical school. After graduating from medical school, Canady had some trouble getting an internship. But eventually, she ended up as a surgery intern at Yale-New Haven Hospital. After her internship, she went on to do her residency in Minnesota. Residency is a part of a doctor’s training, where the doctors-in-training learn on the job. Canady quickly became one of the top residents of her class! Then, she moved on to be a proper neurosurgeon, with a focus on helping sick kids.

Neurosurgery is a kind of surgery that is performed on the nervous system, which includes the brain and the spinal cord. Neurosurgeons must be extremely skilled and talented to succeed in this difficult profession. Alexa Canady rose to every challenge. Many of her patients were under the age of 10. They had serious brain injuries or diseases. Throughout her over 20-year career, Canady saved thousands of young lives.

Canady's approach to medicine was to focus on the patients. She wanted to create a strong relationship with her patients so they felt that they could speak freely about their pain and other concerns. She built trust with her patients. This skill of hers did not go unnoticed. In 1987, she became the director of neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. With her guidance, people viewed her department as one of the best in the country. Although she did experience discrimination during her time as a neurosurgeon, she continued to push past the barriers in the medical profession. She has said, “The greatest challenge I faced in becoming a neurosurgeon was believing it was possible.” Her hard work and dedication paid off.

Alexa Canady received many awards for her work in neurology. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989. And in 1993, she received the American Medical Women's Association President's Award. Even in retirement, Canady works part-time at a hospital, helping other children in need.