VIDEO

VIDEO

NASA Trailblazer: Katherine Johnson

NASA Trailblazer: Katherine Johnson

Born in the segregated south of 1918, Katherine Johnson was a trailblazer from day one. Not only was she one of the first Black students to integrate West Virginia’s graduate schools, she went on to become a NASA mathematician—sending astronauts into orbit, around the Earth, and to the moon. As a Black woman in STEM, Katherine pushed boundaries, overcame adversity, and continues to inspire generations of young people to reach for the stars.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Earth Science, Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics

Transcript (English)

- I liked what I was doing. I liked work. But little did I think it would go this far.

- Katherine Johnson.

- Katherine G. Johnson.

- Katherine Johnson.

- [Announcer] Liftoff. The clock has started.

- Mathematics was the basis of the whole thing.

- You graduated from high school at 14, college at 18. Everybody knew you had a big old brain on you by that time. But I didn't know it.

- But you didn't know it.

- Math, you're either right or you're wrong. That I liked about it.

- She always loved numbers. The professor said, "I think you'd make a good math researcher." She said, "Well, what's that?" He said, "Well, that's for you to find out." That was her dream.

- [Narrator] Katherine Johnson found her way to Hampton, Virginia, and there is NASA.

- NASA was hiring black mathematicians. Just opened it up to women. I was finally going to find out what a research mathematician did.

- Those women took a seat, and that changed our country.

- Katherine Johnson was a trailblazer. She became what was known then as a computer, or a calculator, or a human computer.

- Courage is just one of many words that describe this woman. Being the first woman in the room of all white men., in a time when that was not popular. The courage to even walk in that room with your head held high, I don't think many people could do that.

- When I think about my experiences and those of Katherine Johnson, I am completely in awe. She overcame so much more overt prejudice, so many more challenges than I was ever faced with.

- In 1957, when the Russians launched the Sputnik satellite, the space race then became her job. Calculating trajectories for Mercury missions and Project Apollo.

- Katherine Johnson was so good at what she did. They needed her as an engineer.

- When they had briefings, I asked permission to go. And they said, "Well, the girls don't usually go." And I said, "Well, is there a law?" I began attending the briefings and gradually I did more. The eagle has landed. When they were leaving the moon going back, That was the part that I worried about. They should be exactly correct on that. And I was sitting there hoping I'm right too.

- [Narrator] Without mathematicians, those great moments wouldn't have happened.

- In her 33 years at NASA, Katherine was a pioneer who broke the barriers of race and gender. Everyone can excel in math and science and reach for the stars.

- Katherine often remarked that even though there were medals and awards and so many things that she received and honors, her favorite thing to receive were letters from children.

- Katherine Johnson has taught me not to let anyone bring me down, and that women are capable of doing anything they want to do.

- Katherine Johnson has taught me to believe in myself and my capabilities.

- Katherine Johnson was an amazing African American female mathematician who changed the world.

- She made sure during and after her career to advocate for change and make sure people wouldn't face the same barriers she did.

- Now younger versions of myself don't have to wait until they're an adult to finally hear about her, to let her be a role model in their lives today.

- My problem was to answer questions, and I did that to the best of my ability at all times. And it was a joy.

Transcripción (Español)

- Me gustaba lo que hacía. Me gusta trabajar. Pero nunca pensé que llegaría tan lejos. KATHERINE JOHNSON EXMATEMÁTICA DE LA NASA

- Katherine Johnson.

- Katherine G. Johnson.

- Katherine Johnson.

- [Locutor] Despegue. El reloj inició.

- Las matemáticas fueron la base de todo.

- Finalizaste la prepa a los 14 y la universidad a los 18. Todos sabían que tenías un gran cerebro para esa época. Pero yo no lo sabía.

- Pero tú no lo sabías.

- En matemáticas tienes razón o no. Me gustaba eso de ello.

- Siempre amó los números. El profesor dijo: "Creo que serías una buena investigadora en matemáticas". Ella dijo: "¿Y eso qué es?". Él dijo: "Debes descubrirlo". Ese era su sueño.

- [Narradora] Katherine Johnson halló su camino hasta Hampton, Virginia, y allí está la NASA.

- La NASA estaba contratando matemáticos negros. Acababa de abrirse a las mujeres. Por fin descubriría qué hacía un matemático de investigación.

- Esas mujeres se sentaron, y eso cambió a nuestro país.

- Katherine Johnson fue una pionera. Se convirtió en lo que se conocía como una computadora, una calculadora o una computadora humana.

- "Coraje" es solo una de muchas palabras que describen a esta mujer. Fue la primera mujer en una sala llena de hombres blancos, en una época en la que eso no era popular. ACTRIZ QUE INTERPRETÓ A KATHERINE JOHNSON El coraje para entrar en esa sala con la cabeza en alto no creo que muchos lo hubiera tenido. COMEDOR DE LA NASA DE KATHERINE

- Cuando pienso en mis experiencia, y las de Katherine Johnson, estoy completamente asombrada. Ella superó mucho más prejuicio evidente, muchos más desafíos de los que yo jamás enfrenté.

- En 1957, cuando los rusos lanzaron el satélite Sputnik, la carrera espacial se convirtió en su trabajo. Calculaba trayectorias para las misiones Mercury y el proyecto Apolo.

- Katherine Johnson era buenísima en lo que hacía. La necesitaban como ingeniera.

- Cuando se reunían, pedía permiso para ir. Y me decían: "Las chicas no suelen ir". Y yo decía: "¿Acaso hay una ley?". Comencé a asistir a las reuniones y, gradualmente, hice más. El águila ha aterrizado. Cuando dejaban la luna para regresar, esa era la parte que me preocupaba. Deberían estar exactamente correctos en eso. Y yo estaba sentada allí esperando tener razón también.

- [Narradora] Sin matemáticos, esos grandes momentos no habrían sucedido.

- En sus 33 años en la NASA, Katherine fue una pionera que rompió las barreras de raza y género. Todos pueden sobresalir en matemáticas y ciencias y alcanzar las estrellas.

- Katherine solía comentar que, aunque recibió medallas, premios, honores y muchas otras cosas, lo que más le gustaba recibir eran cartas de niños. 27 DE ABRIL DE 1983 QUERIDA SRA. JOHNSON,

- Katherine Johnson me enseñó a no dejar que nadie me derribe, y que las mujeres pueden hacer cualquier cosa que quieran.

- Katherine Johnson me enseñó a creer en mí misma y en mis capacidades.

- Katherine Johnson fue una increíble matemática afroamericana que cambió el mundo.

- Se aseguró, durante y después de su carrera, de abogar por el cambio y asegurarse de que las personas no enfrentaran las mismas barreras que ella enfrentó.

- Ahora, las versiones más jóvenes de mí misma no tienen que esperar hasta ser adultas para finalmente escuchar sobre ella, para dejar que sea un modelo a seguir en sus vidas hoy.

- Mi problema era responder preguntas, y lo hice lo mejor que pude en todo momento. Y fue un placer. LA NASA LE DEDICÓ A KATHERINE SU INSTALACIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN COMPUTACIONAL. ESTÁ EN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, HOGAR DE ALGUNAS DE LAS COMPUTADORAS MÁS POTENTES. COMO SIEMPRE.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Executive Producer
Vanessa Serrao, National Geographic Society
Senior Producer
Sarah Joseph, National Geographic Society
Coordinating Producer
Katy Daily
Producer and Editor
Chris Dye and Taylor Schuelke
Production Manager
Ashley Green, National Geographic Society
Associate Producer
Ashley Holmes, National Geographic Society
Color Correction
Dustin Sylvia, National Geographic Society
Audio Mix
Kevin Laba
Additional Footage Provided bies
NASA
Lori Epstein
Getty Images
Dr. Ellen Stofan
Donna Wellons
WHRO Public Media
Library of Congress
West Virginia State University
Verizon Media
The College of William & Mary
Trunk Archive
The Obama White House
The John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University
Curiousmarc
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Hampton History Museum
The HistoryMakers
Special Thanks
Charles F. Bolden, JR
Christina Koch
Danielle N. Lee
Megan Smith
Madison Wellons
Monroe Wellons
Morgan Wellons
other
Last Updated

May 29, 2024

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources