The new goal was to put Americans into space. She turned to her work and her daughters for comfort and stability.Īfter Russia launched two satellites into orbit, NACA became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She even successfully demanded that she be allowed to attend high-level briefings. She played cards and talked about aviation magazines with her white male colleagues during breaks. She refused to obey the segregated bathroom rules and avoided eating in the segregated cafeteria. Katherine found ways to fit into the segregated office. Because the engineers did not want to lose her, Katherine remained a part of their team. Most computers were moved from project to project. By speaking up and demonstrating her exceptional analytical skills, Katherine proved her value. Even though he was embarrassed, he admitted she was right. She went to him and pointed out the mistake. One of the team leaders asked her to review a set of calculations.
#Katherine johnson nasa work full#
Katherine followed the engineer into an office full of white men. Katherine was singled out by her boss, who said Katherine was one of the brightest computers on staff. Two weeks after she started, an engineer walked into the Black computers’ office seeking help. She was in a room full of Black women professionals, all with their own desks and computing machines. On Katherine’s first day, she was amazed. Katherine drove to the NACA facility and requested an application. Because of this, the engineers often preferred working with the more knowledgeable Black computers. Black computers needed college degrees and high GPAs. The hiring requirements for Black computers were different than for white computers. Therefore, NACA had two divisions of computers-one for white women and another for Black women. And NACA’s computers were critical to complete this work.Īlthough NACA was segregated, it was required by federal law that federal government employers not discriminate on the basis of race. Both countries were eager to create aircraft for national defense. At this time, the United States was involved in a cold war with Russia. The women were called computers because they completed all of the calculations for the male engineers on staff. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was hiring women with math experience. Katherine soon learned of a job opportunity that seemed too good to be true. Also, there were federal government facilities nearby where Katherine might find work. Looking for a fresh start, they moved to Newport News, Virginia. In 1951, Katherine and Jimmie’s home caught fire. During summer break, Jimmie worked as a chauffeur and Katherine as a maid because their teaching salaries were not enough to cover their expenses. She and Jimmie soon had three daughters, born in 1940, 1943, and 1944.īy 1947, Katherine returned to teaching with Jimmie. After one year, Katherine returned to Virginia. As an educated Black woman, teaching was the most likely profession for her, with or without a graduate degree.
Katherine loved high-level math, but she did not see the value in completing her graduate degree. That same year, Katherine accepted an invitation to integrate West Virginia University as one of the first Black graduate students. Within a few months, Katherine took a job teaching and met fellow educator Jimmie Goble. By 18, she graduated with a double degree in French and math. After high school, she enrolled at the historically Black college, West Virginia State.
Katherine was incredibly smart and finished high school when she was just 13 years old. And, in order to reach the nearest Black high school, the Coleman family had to move 80 miles. The Black school had only two rooms for seven grades. At that time, the school system was segregated. This was an ambitious goal for a Black family in the South. Katherine’s parents were determined their four children would complete college. Katherine Coleman was born on August 26, 1918, in West Virginia.
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