Hidden Figures

It’s no secret that minorities are underrepresented in STEM fields, and as a black female it’s not often that I look around a classroom and see anyone else who looks like me. I was shocked and left in awe this past semester when I stumbled across this movie trailer on Facebook.

If you didn’t catch the trailer, Hidden Figures tells the story of three African American female mathematicians and engineers who were instrumental in helping NASA send John Glenn into orbit.

Here were my reactions after seeing the trailer:
1. This is awesome.
2. Were there ACTUALLY black female women who worked for NASA or is this fiction?
3. *immediately checks Wikipedia*
4. There were!!!
5. How have I never heard about these women before??
6. That must be why the movie is entitled “hidden” figures
7. TBH, the only black scientist I know is George Washington Carver, that peanut man.
8. JK Neil DeGrasse Tyson is cool
9. I gotta go see this movie.

To my surprise, USC had coordinated with the LA unified school district to bus young women from all over Los Angeles for a free screening of Hidden Figures at the Galen Center. Lucky for me, the ladies of NSBE were invited by Viterbi’s new Dean of Diversity to attend the screening. I may have missed one of my classes during the first week of school, but it was well worth it.

Not only did I get to see the movie for free, the stars of the movie including rapper,singer,producer extraordinaire Pharrell came out to introduce the movie!!! I don’t believe there could have been a better reason to miss class.

If you haven’t seen the movie, please please please take ya momma, daddy, siblings, friends, cousins, random people you meet to see this movie. It was so heartwarming, funny, poignant, and incredibly inspiring. And I’m proud to say I now know more black people in STEM than just George and Neil.

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