Hidden figures Chapter 5 - 8

The Langley Memorial Laboratory brought a lot of federal money into the region when the government bought parcels of lands that had been put together by a local oyster magnate. The laboratory quickly began to grow and host an increasing number of employees forcing them to construct ever more buildings. The West Area computing pool, which was where Dorothy was headed, was put up in one of the most recent additions that had been constructed. The only difference between that building and the others in NACA was that the mathematicians working in this section were black women. The East area computing pool was made up of white female computers, but the women in that sector treated the black women with dignity and equal respect. The women of the West Area became a tight-knit group that enforced strict rules for its members knowing full well that they had to work twice as hard as their white counterparts to make half of their progress. Their experience at the laboratory is mostly pleasant, as their colleagues are more concerned about their ability to perform their job rather than their race or gender. Miriam Mann, a brave and outspoken black mathematician, takes it upon herself to steal away all the signs that the administration puts up in the cafeteria to segregate them from the rest of the white population of scientists and mathematicians. Her efforts in this regard eventually bear fruit as the signs stop reappearing.

NACA is very concerned about the secrets of its work leaking out to the enemy through the careless conversation of its employees. Supervisors insist that employees do not disclose the details of their work even to the members of their families, which makes the employees of the lab all the weirder to the locals. The people in the lab understand that their work is just as important as the work of the black fighter pilots that often turn up in the headlines. Their work in the wind tunnels allows them to create ever more versatile and functional designs for specific aircraft roles such as the fighter P-51 and the Bomber B-29. The laboratory head ensures that everyone in the building is aware of their contribution to winning the war when the Americans successfully drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As time goes on, Dorothy begins to settle into her life at the Laboratory, but between her work and extra classes, she barely has enough time to spend with her children and her husband, Howard. Dorothy makes a gamble by leasing a house for herself in Newsome Park, an area filled with housing that was believed to have been set up only until the end of the war. It is difficult for both her as well as her children, but Newsome Parks offer her the ability to be with her children. The move strains her relationship with her husband, who comes to Hampton often to be with her and the children but he often needs to return to FarmVille to be with his elderly mother. Victory day in 1945 signals a great change for the American economy that had until then been operating on hyperdrive due to the demand created by the active war. “Reconversion” became the new hot word, as jobs were said to be prioritized for the benefit of returning soldiers, and so nearly two million women were let go from their wartime roles even before Victory day came about.

Katherine was born to one of the most respected black men of his region, Joshua Coleman, who was known for his mathematical prowess despite having received a limited education. Katherine’s gift for mathematics became clear to her educators and parents at a very young age, she would count on anything she could lay her eyes upon. She skipped grades and received a scholarship to study at a black college, and then received the opportunity to study at the white West Virginia State University under the tutelage of an extremely gifted mathematician. However, Katherine had secretly married Jimmy Goble in secret, and she soon became pregnant with a child so she was forced to drop her education midway. None of the people in her life begrudged her the bliss of a loving marriage, but even Katherine often daydreamed about what her life would have been like if she had chosen to pursue the course to its completion. She received Jimmy’s job as a teacher at a high school when Jimmy came down with a sickness, and the principal offered her the opportunity to be his replacement.

Analysis

The theme of community plays a significant role in the lives of the black mathematicians that the book follows. In the prologue itself, Margot talks about how important it was to have intelligent and accomplished black women around her. The mere presence of these women helped her understand that she could achieve anything that she set her mind towards. Moreover, the presence of these capable individuals also allowed her to pave her way through life with significantly more ease. In the stories of both Dorothy and Katherine, we see the undeniable contributions of the people in their families and social circle in helping them realize their dreams. For instance, Dorothy cannot have joined NACA or the army laundry place if it hadn’t been for the presence of her in-laws, who willingly took on the responsibility for her children. Their support and presence allowed Dorothy to go out into the world without fearing for the well-being of her children. Furthermore, Katherine is able to secure a job at the NACA facility not only due to her unique mathematical ability but also because of the social connections that she forms. In this way, the book asserts that healthy community life is not only beneficial for a fulfilling personal life but also progress in one’s professional life as well. The social connections that the women in the west area computer pool form soon begin to replace the kind of support that these women had received from their homes.