Celebration of Women...Part Two

I did mention in my last Post that I was going to talk about Maya Angelou today. However, after recently watching the film, Hidden Figures, I have changed my mind. Well, it's a woman's perogative, isn't it?!  If you haven't already seen this film, I would urge you to do so, as it features three amazing women who, behind the scenes, played a huge part in NASA's space race successes. 

 

I suppose that I really should now tell you the names of these three unsung heros ... Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, all of whom were brilliant Afro-American mathematicians.  Really, it is shameful that their contribution has mainly been consigned to the history books. 

My goodness, these were brave young women. Bear in mind that we are talking here about the late 1950's/early 1960's, and these ladies were fighting on two fronts : a) they were women and b) they were black. With all the slights they had to put up with, it would have been all too easy for them to give up, but they kept on trying to break down all the barriers that stood before them. 

That's why I feel they are so deserving to be featured in my Posts, celebrating International Women's Day. 

 

Katherine Johnson. 

 

Mary Jackson 

 

Dorothy Vaughan 

Their meticulous calculations helped America to catch up in the space race that was going on at that time between Russia and the USA.  There is a scene in the film, whereby the Astronaut, John Glenn, insists that Katherine Johnson herself should be the one to check the complex trajectory calculations made by the computer. He refused to let the launch of Friendship 7 (in 1962) go ahead without those checks being done. That's how trusted Katherine's mind was. 

Dorothy Vaughan paved the way for minorities, as she finally became NASA's first ever Afro-American Manager. 

Mary Jackson, again after a long hard battle, became NASA's first black Engineer. The three of them worked closely together to support each other and to achieve their aims. 

I really do recommend that you see the film, which is, just like the women themselves, truly inspirational.  I am delighted that their stories have finally been told. 

As a footnote, NASA's new Computer Research Laboratory (opened just last year) has been named the Katherine G Johnson Computational Research Facility.  How wonderful that Katherine herself was able to attend the Opening, at the age of 97!  She had worked at the Langley Research Centre from 1953 - 1986, and even in her retirement, was a staunch advocate for science, technology, engineering and math education. 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about these ladies, as much as I have enjoyed researching them. Enjoy the week ahead everyone. 

March - the time to celebrate womanhood....

I'm sure that many of you will know that on the 8th March each year, we celebrate International Women's Day.  This year the theme is #BeBoldForChange, where women are being called on to help forge a better working world....a more inclusive, gender equal world.  I was born in 1947, and my goodness, there have been so many changes involving women, but I honestly feel there is still a long way to go, which does rather sadden me somewhat.  Sometimes I think to myself, why are we having these same conversations, all these years down the line.  I suppose we just have to keep chipping away!  Apparently, the World Economic Forum is forecasting that the gender gap won't close entirely until 2186.  Now that really is quite a depressing thought. 

 

So, for the month of March, I thought I would devote some time to women that I admire,  for what they achieved during their lifetimes.  They are not in any particular order!

Mother Teresa was, without doubt, one of the most respected and influential women of the 20th Century.  She is, of course, remembered for her amazing charitable and missionary work, involving the sick and poorest in Society. She, herself, was not born into a poor family, and arrived in India from her home in Albania, when she was just 19 years old. Ever since her early childhood, she had always been fascinated by stories of Missionaries and their work in India.  She actually went to Ireland in 1928, to learn English, at aged 18, before moving to India.  After that, she never saw her mother or 

sisters again.  

 

It wasn't until 1946  that she said Jesus spoke to her and told her to abandon her teaching to go and work in the slums of Calcutta. 

There are many quotes by Mother Teresa that I am always inspired by, and here are just two of them ....

"Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."

"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love."

I was going to introduce you to my next inspirational woman in this Post, but it's getting to be quite long, so next time I shall be honouring Maya Angelou. I do hope that you can join me again then.  Meanwhile, remember, every one of you reading this is special in your own unique way.