3. Karl Zielinski, a NASA mission specialist, was Mary Jackson's mentor in the movie. Timelines had to be conflated and [there were] composite characters, and for most people [who have seen the movie] have already taken that as the literal fact. He says this and they turn to watch Katherine Johnson do her mathematical magic on the chalkboard. 'Hidden Figures': 10 of the Film's Stars and Their Real-Life Inspirations The untold story of the three African-American, female mathematicians who helped win the Space Race even as they dealt. Marys husband. Deadline Hollywood noted it as one of the most profitable releases of 2016, and estimated that it made a net profit of $95.5 million.[4]. Al Harrison It's a small group of people, and my hat is off to them. Select Personalities. She, Margerey Hannah is West Area computings white section chief. Like Howard Vaughan, he also works as a bellman at a luxury hotel. Al Harrison : The girl? 20% 8. Any human can tell any human's story. Hodge prepared for his role by reading Margot Lee Shetterly's book, also titled Hidden Figures, from which the movie was adatped. She asked the city of Hampton for an exception, and it was granted. After successfully calculating the numbers needed to launch the astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into space, Johnson is told she will no longer be needed in the Space Task Group. Waiting is not a prosperity strategy. Ruth He often times takes on leadership roles in meetings, and his employees on the Space Task Force look to him for instruction. The scene where a coffeepot labeled "colored" appears in Katherine Johnson's workplace did not happen in real life, and the book on which the film is based mentions no such incident. Neither scene happened in real life, and screenwriter Theodore Melfi said he saw no problem with adding the scenes, saying, "There needs to be white people who do the right thing, there needs to be Black people who do the right thing, and someone does the right thing. The girl? Still alive at age 98, Johnson lives in Virginia, where the movie takes place. Among its many achievements, Octavia Spencer was particularly lauded for her portrayal of Dorothy Vaughan and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 15 'Hidden Figures' Box Office Profits 2016 Most Valuable Movie Blockbuster Tournament", "National Board of Review Announces 2016 Award Winners", "Ted Melfi & Fox 2000 In Talks For 'Hidden Figures'; How A Group Of Math-Savvy Black Women Helped NASA Win Space Race", "Hidden Figures: "A Mathematical Juggling Act", "Taraji P. Henson to Play Math Genius in New Film 'Hidden Figures', "Octavia Spencer to Play Mathematician Opposite Taraji P. Henson in 'Hidden Figures' (EXCLUSIVE)", "Kevin Costner Joins Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer in 'Hidden Figures' (EXCLUSIVE)", "Janelle Monae Joins Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer in Fox 2000's 'Hidden Figures' (Exclusive)", "Jim Parsons Joins Ted Melfi's 'Hidden Figures' For Fox 2000", "Kirsten Dunst Joins Ted Melfi-Directed 'Hidden Figures' At Fox 2000", "Ted Melfi's 'Hidden Figures' Adds Glen Powell & Mahershala Ali", "On the Set for 3/11/16: Taraji P. Henson & Octavia Spencer Team Up for 'Hidden Figures' While Jordan Peele, Allison Williams & Catherine Keener Wrap 'Get Out', "What's Filming in Atlanta Now? Rather than advocating for her promotion in isolation, she advocated for the entire department to be able to fill the needs of programming the new IBM computer. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. She double checks the numbers of the electronic computer for John Glenn's NASA mission. He is in charge of hiring the human computers. James Williams is a black engineer and former Tuskegee airman who graduates from the University of Michigan before joining Langley in the early 1950s. The head of personnel at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. Even though this was post-Brown v. Board of Education, Virginia had yet to desegregate its schools. Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder.It is loosely based on the 2016 non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about three female African-American mathematicians: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Mone), who worked . Katherine displays her anger for the way she is being treating when Al asks her why she leaves for 40 minutes each day without providing an explanation. She is extremely pragmatic and fiercely devoted to her church and her children. Hidden Figures (2017) tells the true story of three brilliant Black female mathematicians Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Mone) who use their intellect to supersede both segregation and sexism at NASA and propel the United States in the Space Race that dominated the 1960s. Fix your hair.". Many times, leaders get so caught up in their own egos, personal agendas, and insecurities that they hurt themselves by restricting the breadth of talent on their team. She stepped up to lead when the supervisor position was vacant, yet she had never been officially promoted nor given a pay raise to reflect the added responsibility. She comes to Langley around 20 years after the other featured women, and her research into sonic boom minimization is used in aerodynamics today. Hidden Figures is a 2016 film that recounts the story of three incredible black women in NASA history: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. During the time the movie was based on, Jim Johnson is Katherine Johnson's love. And then act like it! The character is a strict supervisor who challenges Dorothy Vaughn throughout the movie. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Hidden Figures had a limited release on December 25, 2016, by 20th Century Fox, before going wide in North America on January 6, 2017. And so who cares who does the right thing, as long as the right thing is achieved?"[36]. Based on a true story, Hidden Figures follows the events of the U.S. and Russian race to put the first man in orbit. [68] Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of the film to be $95.55 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues for the film, making it one of the top twenty most profitable release of 2016. When he is showing his colleagues and staff members that Katherine can use any bathroom she would like, regardless of her skin colour, he is showing them how he wants them to treat Katherine. Web. Skopinski, can be found on the NASA Technical Reports Server.[47]. Some of the screenings were open to all-comers, while others were arranged to benefit girls, women and the underprivileged. Marys son. Superb performances across the board and a fascinating story alone make Hidden Figures a solid, an accomplished and deftly executed movie that entertains, engages and earns your time, money and attention. John Glenn You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. He presides over a portion of the Cold War and passes measures to increase U.S. proficiency in science and engineering. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. He was willing to be the one. The support for the screenings was so positive that 48 countries decided to each nominate one women in STEM to represent their country on a three-week IVLP exchange program in the United States. But you can do it. ( The writer couldn't get the rights to the guy he initially wanted.) One of just three Black male engineers at Langley. The untold story of the three African-American, female mathematicians who helped win the Space Race even as they dealt with sexism and racism from their colleagues. The press kit published before launch states that "The Mercury Operations Director may elect a one, two or three orbit mission. in-depth analysis of Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson. Other stars include Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glen Powell. She works as a human computer at Langley, and is outspoken about the discrimination there. In turn, this leads to Katherine experiencing extreme segregation and racism in the Space Task Group. We get to the peak together, or we don't get there at all. Al Harrison, Katherine's boss says to her, "What I'm asking everyone in that room to do, all my geniuses, is to look beyond the numbers. She was the head of the West Area Computers, leading a group of African-American mathematicians through crucial space projects. I understood her work to an extent, but she's a rocket scientist and there are very few people in the world who get that type of physics and can work interchangeably in the math disciplines, Spencer said. She is inspired to use "her knack for numbers and all things analytical" to pursue a degree in the sciences at Hampton Institute, Virginia. Such as staying behind at work and working overtime. The Hidden Figures film poster depicts Janelle Mone, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer portraying their respective roles as Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan, who worked at NASA during the 1960s. Although she displays signs of hurtfulness when she is given her own coffee pot she continues to use it. Free trial is available to new customers only. Katherine meets African-American National Guard Lt. Col. Jim Johnson, who voices skepticism about women's mathematical abilities. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. : I loved her defiant spirit! A. Philip Randolph is an African-American Civil Rights leader and labor organizer who fights for equal rights for African-American workers. A statistician and theorist, Stafford has no interest in giving up his white male privileges. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? It only takes one to be the voice, the genius, the pioneer, the advocate, the leaderthe one who changes history. It only takes one to stand up and claim the right to pursue the opportunities you deserve rather than waiting around for your day to come. There is a lot of power in one! Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! When Katherines talents are recognised and the workers do not allow Katherine's status affect their opinions of her, Katherine experiences minimal racism and discrimination in the Space Task Force. Levi Jackson was a civil rights activist who struggled with his wife's efforts in pursuing a career as an engineer and balancing her home life. Find the genius among those geniuses. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The women behind the story depicted in Hidden Figures showed us all the power of One. Harrison's character, meanwhile, is an unfortunate meta-commentary on Hollywood's continued reliance on racist and sexist storytelling tropes that weakens the film and its message. For instance, he rarely speaks to Katherine directly and when speaking about her to his employees he often refers to her as the girl with the numbers. You have a civil rights issue playing out with the way African-Americans are being treated. And, she speaks. The Mercury Control Center was located at Cape Canaveral in Florida, not at the Langley Research Center in Virginia. "It was well done. Additionally, NASA was officially desegregated in 1958 (the film takes place in 1961). A Leader Must Be the One Who Reminds the Boss to Act Like the Boss. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Dorothy Vaughns husband. Al Harrison She was willing to be the one. Official Sites [38] Melfi said he found "hurtful" the "accusations of a 'white savior' storyline", saying: It was very upsetting to me because I am at a place where I've lived my life colorless and I grew up in Brooklyn. So, er, do you think we'll get to the moon? : When Al works alongside Katherine and learns that the colour of her skin and gender does not define what she can do, he uses his power to eliminate the discrimination within the workplace and challenges his employees to abandon societal norms. Follow the Graphic on Twitter: @PeppGraphic, Email Grace Wood: grace.wood@pepperdine.edu, Filed Under: Life & Arts Tagged With: film review, Grace Wood, Hidden Figures, Janelle Mone, Jim Parsons, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali, NASA, Octavia Spencer, pepperdine graphic media, Space Race, Taraji P. Henson, Fall 2019: Challenging Perceptions of Light & Dark. Al Harrison was not a real person, but a fictionalized composite of three NASA directors at Langley during the time. COMMUNITY LOGIN. Virginia Tucker is Langleys head female mathematician and. Mary Jackson did not wait on the leaders to allow her to lead, but claim her place among them. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. Refine any search. Being the one to buck authority takes courage of great testicular fortitude, but someone has to be the One to do it. Baby Driver, Hidden Figures, and a grim warning of things to come", "Pharrell Williams, Making Noise for 'Hidden Figures' Everywhere", "Pharrell Williams to Produce, Write Music for Fox 2000's 'Hidden Figures', "Q&A: Our interview with Katherine G. 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"[44] The post-mission report also shows that retrofire was scheduled to occur on the third orbit. Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder. I don't want to have this conversation about Black film or white film anymore. It is loosely based on the 2016 non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about three female African-American mathematicians: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Mone), who worked at NASA during the Space Race. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Katherine Johnson challenges Al Harrison to buck protocol and allow her to attend the security briefing so that she can get the critical changes that impact her work in real time. Fox 2000 Pictures acquired the film rights, and Theodore Melfi signed on to direct. Release Dates From early scenes in the movie, Als character is shown to be heavily involved in his work and is highly respected in his office. What I learned from playing Dorothy Vaughan is that I have a voice and that I have to use it for people who don't have a voice or whose voice is somehow subdued by whatever's happening in society, she told THR. [22][23], In an interview with WHRO-TV, Johnson denied the feelings of segregation. Mission Control decides to land Glenn after three orbits instead of seven, and Katherine supports Harrison's suggestion to leave the retro-rocket attached to help keep the heat shield in place. You'll also receive an email with the link. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. He pulls her from Dorothy Vaughan's computing group, but he has to be persuaded to hire her on officially and give her the raise she deserves, in part because he doesn't believe women should work. NASA's never ever given you guys your due. She acknowledges and accepts the fact that because she is a woman of colour, she will not receive as much gratitude and recognition for her work as other members of the Space Task Group. [7] Levantine Films produced the film with Peter Chernin's Chernin Entertainment. Mary Jackson Character Analysis. Here at NASA we all pee the same color. It would be great for people to understand that there were so many more people. [19] Vaughan and many of the former West computers transferred to the new Analysis and Computation Division (ACD), a racially and gender-integrated group. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Mary Jackson was a mathematician and NASA's first black female engineer in 1958. "[77], Other reviews criticized the film for its fictional embellishments and conventional, feel-good style. "[76], Clayton Davis of Awards Circuit gave the film three and a half stars, saying "Precisely marketed as terrific adult entertainment for the Christmas season, Hidden Figures is a faithful and truly beautiful portrait of our country's consistent gloss over the racial tensions that have divided and continue to plague the fabric of our existence. The film sheds light on issues the Black community faces that are especially relevant today, including workplace discrimination and the experience of having accomplishments diminished in favor of their white counterparts. Henry Reid is the engineering director of the Langley laboratory. I walked to school with people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and that's how I've lived my life. Informed by Mitchell that there are no plans to assign a "permanent supervisor for the colored group," Dorothy learns NASA has installed an IBM 7090 electronic computer that threatens to replace human computers. Motivation The motivation of Al Harrison is that he wants to beat the Russians to space and send a man to the moon. As a white woman, she is permitted to take part in editorial meetings and even earn authorship credits on some reports, unlike her Black female peers. Other times, you need to speak to yourself and remind you that you are a leader! John Glenn, an astronaut and engineer, was the first American to orbit the Earth and fifth person into space. It only takes one to bring others along with you because you know are more powerful when you have an alliance of others who believe in what you believe than when you act individually. (In real life, Jacksons mentors name was Kazimierz Kaz Czarnecki, according to NASA) The character and real-life counterpart both display underemployed talent and undertake a long-term mentorship. . Al Harrison She was willing to be the first so that others could be in the number. It is irrelevant of whether you hold a title or not. In Donald Bogle's book, Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks, he discusses how black women in the 1980's rarely had a chance to have . "I tried to play up the honesty of his legacy just off the fact that he was a very kind-natured soul, as a family man," he said in an AOL web series interview. She confronted her supervisor about this inequity and was summarily dismissed on numerous occasions. His behaviour towards Katherine coupled with the values of society at the time, show his workers that it is acceptable to not respect Katherine and engage in discriminatory actions. Its this triangle of three major things, three major things that are still with us today as a society., Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Dunst admitted she was unaware of the story in an interview posted on Rotten Tomatoes. Rather than waiting on opportunity to come to her, she chose to meet opportunity head on. [73] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale,[74] one of fewer than 90 films in the history of the service to receive such a score. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. April 30, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The movie is based on real-life heroism of the African American women human computers who worked behind the scenes to launch the first American into space. "Hidden Figures" (2017) tells the true story of three brilliant Black female mathematicians Katherine Johnson ( Taraji P. Henson ), Dorothy Vaughan ( Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson ( Janelle Mone) who use their intellect to supersede both segregation and sexism at NAS A and propel the United States in the Space Race that dominated the Yuri Gargarin is a Russian cosmonaut who becomes the first human in space and the first human to orbit Earth. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. It was expected to gross around $20 million from 2,471 theaters in its opening weekend, with the studio projecting a more conservative $1517 million debut. Purchasing (including. While having three, serious lead roles that portrayed by black actresses, it shows how far the industry has come. : After the bathroom scene, Al and the rest of the Space Task Force begin to notice Katherine is an extremely intelligent woman. One of the computers at Langley. Instead of being a powerhouse of one, she built a powerful alliance that created greater opportunity for her AND her team. "[24], Mary Jackson did not have to get a court order to attend night classes at the whites-only high school. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Leaders must be the one to have the courage to speak up about injustice when they see it. In 2016, NASA dedicated the Langley Research Center's Katherine Johnson Computational Building in her honor. -Graham S. Christine Darden (Also Christine Mann) is a black female aeronautical engineer who worked at the Langley Research Center for many years as a data analyst before rising to the top level in her field. [66] The film debuted at No. named after a character in Black minstrel shows. A Leader Must Be the One Voice that Says What Needs to Be Said. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Costner | based on the book 'Hidden Figures' by Margot Lee Shetterly For better or for worse, there is history, there is the book and then there's the movie. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. But I kept filming. You just have to act like one, sir. Most African American people in the 1950-1960s were segregated and had to put up with unequal systems involving school, housing, employment and hospitals. This is a very powerful scene that perfectly exemplifies Als power in the workplace. Glenn was unable to see the film due to his health but his family members were supportive. The group is under immense pressure from the US government to put a man in space. The website's critical consensus reads, "In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlookedand crucialcontributions from a pivotal moment in American history. Sometimes you need to speak up to keep another leader focused on the importance of the mission. | This conversation between Katherine and Vivian allows the audience to predict that Katherine will not be with the Space Task Force for long, however this changes throughout the course of the movie. Al Harrison : You mean Katherine? You might get the indication in the movie that these were the only people doing those jobs, when in reality we know they worked in teams, and those teams had other teams. Al had a vision to see men in space. Although these women were discriminated against by the colour of their skin, they did not let it affect their capabilities and were determined to achieve their personal goals. [3] In North America, Hidden Figures had its expansion alongside the opening of Underworld: Blood Wars and the wide expansions of Lion and A Monster Calls. An air of do-gooder self-satisfaction hovers over the proceedings",[78] while Jesse Hassenger at The A.V. Katherine Johnson's Technical Note D-233, co-written with T.H. [39], The fictional characters Vivian Mitchell and Paul Stafford are composites of several team members, and reflect common social views and attitudes of the time. | There. Katherine Johnson When she asks Paul Stafford to attend, she was told that there is no protocol for a woman to attend the meeting. As a leader, the most important job is to find the genius in your team and allow the genius to do its thing. One of the characters that can be thoroughly examined is Al Harrison, Chief of NASAs Space Task Group. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Contact us They were resilient and tenacious in convincing those in power to be courageous to lead when others would not. [3] Domestically, Hidden Figures was the highest-grossing Best Picture nominee at the 89th Academy Awards. Behind the scenes of one of the greatest operations in U.S. history, a group of African-American women (played by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae) teamed up to solve mathematical equations for NASA. He works tirelessly to secure better work opportunities for black people, including threatening to stage read analysis of A. Philip Randolph Henry Pearson : Henry Pearson is the head of the branch of the Flight Research Division where Katherine Johnson works. She is an exceptional student with unusual curiosity that leads her to Hampton Institute and to working at Langley. It only takes one to remind the boss to be the boss! By blending older tracks from Ray Charles, Miles Davis and The Miracles with fresh additions from Pharrell Williams, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys, the music provides timely emotional context to important scenes. During her time at NASA, she worked under segregated conditions as a "computer.". Youll get your feelings hurt. Paul Stafford is a fictional character representing a number of white engineers at NASA for whom Katherine Johnson worked. [46] The phrase "go for at least seven orbits" that is in the mission transcript refers to the fact that the Atlas booster had placed Glenn's capsule into an orbit that would be stable for at least seven orbits, not that he had permission to stay up that long. Dexter Thomas of Vice News criticized Melfi's additions as creating the white savior trope: "In this case, it means that a white person doesn't have to think about the possibility that, were they around back in the 1960s South, they might have been one of the bad ones. Dorothy Hoover is a black aeronautical research scientist in Langleys Stability Analysis Division and one of the first women at Langley to publish research papers. Pull us all up. When a woman of colour, named Katherine Johnson, begins to work for the Space Task Force, she experiences discrimination from her colleagues.