Women played a key role in the American space race. Hidden Figures, written by Margot Lee Shetterly, is a novel detailing the story of several women who worked at NASA solving problems for engineers as "computers." Additionally, this novel addresses the major racial issues of this period; where the initial introduction of integration is met with resistance in several states in the United States. Overall, the central argument of Hidden Figures is that it was these women who made it possible for the United States to put a man on the Moon. The three characters in this novel have participated in many tasks that will soon become extraordinary achievements. All three computers, with mention of a fourth, Christine Darden, had contributed to some of NASA's greatest successes. The book focuses on the space race, when NASA was ready to send astronaut John Glenn, hoping he would be the first American to orbit the Earth. It's worth noting that Glenn didn't really trust the machines that would do the calculations for his flight. Instead, he trusted Katherine. He would say, "Get the girl, check the numbers" before boarding the rocket, and "If she says they're good, I'm good to go." Which demonstrates the respect that computers, like Katherine, have earned over the years through their hard work and effort. In fact, Katherine's mathematical skills and research were essential to NASA's success; and, among other achievements at NASA, "his calculations single-handedly saved the Apollo 13 mission," Johnson is "the most recognized of all NASA human computers, black or white." Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayWithout Katherine and the other women who served as computers, it is possible that the many missions of the space race would not have been accomplished as successfully or as quickly as they occurred. The advancement of social justice was made possible thanks to these women. Not only did they face discrimination and racial prejudice, but they also had to fight against society to get more opportunities, such as a higher position or the chance to take classes. These women exceeded low expectations and proved their abilities and intelligence: in 1940, only 2 percent of all black women earned a college degree, and 60 percent of them became teachers, primarily in public elementary and secondary schools . And yet, at a time when only 10 percent of white women and not even a third of white men had earned a college degree, West Computers had found jobs and each other at the best and largest aeronautical research complex in the world. This quote confirms that the women in this novel paved the way; not only for other African Americans, but also for women, in male-dominated industries. In fact, their contributions to the Space Race helped usher in integration to reduce segregation in Virginia; which was a state that initially protested this. At that time, women like Katherine were not allowed to attend NASA meetings. “Why can’t I go to editorial meetings? she asked the engineers. A post-match analysis recap wasn't as exciting as being there for the main event. “How could she not want to participate in the discussion? They were his numbers, after all.” This extract from the novel..