Mary Jackson was an African American woman, who was born April 09th, 1921 in Hampton Virginia, USA. She graduated with highest Honor from High School and continued her education at Hampton Institute, graduating in Mathematics and Physical Science. She began her career at NASA in 1951 as a human computer at Segregated West Area Computing Division at Langley Research Center and in 1958 she achieved to become in the NASA's first black female aeronautical engineer. Mary Jackson was a vivid representation of the victory of women against the double discrimination in the race of professional development during the 60's .
During the 50's and 60's there were no machines to do the calculations necessary to take man to space. Mary began working at NASA in 1951 as a human computer and with her a hundred colored women who helped with their calculations in the race for the win of space and who not given deserved recognition as a consequence for their double condition; they were not only women, they were colored women "While they did the same work as their white counterparts, African-American computers were paid less" ( Matt Blitz, 2017).
The restrictions and limitations imposed on the colored community in the segregation time led Jackson to accept the imposition of obstacles as in her life as a in her professional career well. She was not only judged by people of different racial type but also she was discriminated against by her own people due to her gender.
Jackson worked during two years as a human computer. Until in 1953 she was assigned to work for Engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki, Although “the traditional stereotype for engineer, specifically during the segregation era of the 1950’s, was that they were a white, male force”_(Kathleen Villaluz, 2017) Kazimierz suggested that she enter in training program to become an engineer because “A person with an engineer’s mind, should be an engineer” (Hidden Figures Movie, 2016) He was who prompted to Mary o struggle for her rights.
Although, she had the necessary studies that were required to become an engineer. Jackson had to take special courses at then-segregated University of Virginia in order to be part of the NASA's engineer training program. Mary faced and struggled not only with racist prejudices, but also with the macho prejudices as well there was throughout the United States in the segregation time, particularly in states like Virginia. She took to court the law that prevented her from taking the required courses “I plan on being engineer at NASA... I have no choice but to be the first" these are the words in the court scene in the Hidden Figures Movie. She attained her aim finally she got the permission to attend evening classes at the university "Mary completed the courses, earned the promotion, and in 1958 became NASA’s first female black engineer" (NASA’s Article).
Eventually, Mary broke all the schemes related with the status women/colored women and demonstrated that women specifically colored women could be as capable and intelligent as men. She struggled for attain her aim even when she lived in a country where the discrimination not only for the color but the gender as well was on the rise. She demonstrated to be a vivid representation of the victory of women in the segregation era.
I recommend to go to see the Óscar-nominated Hidden Figures based on the life of Mary Jackson and her friends Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan.