Black History Month: Katherine Johnson’s Story

In honor of Black History Month, WGHS recognizes Katherine Johnson, a mathematician whose work helped send astronauts into space.
by Chloe Fankah

(image courtesy of StarTalkMedia)

​Katherine Johnson was one of the most important mathematicians behind America’s early space missions, even though many people did not know her name for decades. Her calculations helped send astronauts safely into space and bring them back home, all during a time when both racism and sexism were strong barriers in the workplace.
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According to NASA’s official biography of Katherine Johnson, she was born in 1918 in West Virginia and showed advanced math skills at a very young age. She skipped multiple grades and graduated high school at just 14 years old. Because schools for Black students were limited at the time, her family made sacrifices to support her education. That early determination would later shape her entire career.

Johnson began working for NASA in the 1950s, during the height of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. At NASA, she worked as a “computer,” which meant she solved complex math problems by hand before electronic computers were fully trusted. Her job was to calculate flight trajectories.

One of her most famous contributions was to astronaut John Glenn’s 1962 orbital mission. As reported by NASA, Glenn requested that Katherine Johnson personally check the computer’s calculations before he agreed to fly. He trusted her math completely. That moment showed not only how skilled she was, but also how respected she had become in a field dominated by men. However, her achievements did not come without challenges.

Johnson worked in segregated offices and was often excluded from important meetings. Based on Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, Black women at NASA had to constantly prove their intelligence in spaces where they were underestimated. Despite this, Johnson continued to speak up, ask questions, and demand to be included in discussions about the missions she was helping calculate.

Her story later reached a wider audience through the film Hidden Figures, which helped many people finally recognize the contributions of Black women in science and engineering. The movie made it clear that these women were never just assistants; they were essential to America’s success in space exploration.

Katherine Johnson’s impact goes beyond numbers and rocket launches. She represents resilience, confidence, and the power of education. In a field like math, where many students can feel intimidated or discouraged, her story is proof that intelligence and persistence can open doors that society tries to close.

As someone who enjoys math, learning about Katherine Johnson feels inspiring. It is encouraging to see someone take a subject that many people struggle with and use it to change history. Her story reminds students, especially young girls, that being good at math is something to be proud of, not something to hide. Katherine Johnson did not just solve equations; she helped shape the future of space travel and proved that brilliance has no limits.

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