Analysis Of Hidden Figures

Movies and entertainment outlets speak volumes about the current state of a nation’s culture. Cinematic creations in the United States allow small voices to be heard and controversial issues to be addressed. However, a repetitive and monumental issue continues to be addressed, yet continues to persist in our 21st century culture, racial inequalities. Since the inception of the United States, black men and women alike have been disenfranchised at the hands of the “white man” in America. Instead of continuing the conversation today, the issue is continually silenced referencing the successes and achievements of the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century. Nonetheless, an unfortunate reality looms upon this great land; racially based systems and structures continue to exist in 2015 the in United States. This paper synthesizes three films focused on racial inequalities in different time periods. Separate but Equal (1991), Selma (2015), and Crash (2005) illustrate how influential the Civil War amendments are, while serving as an uncanny reminder of how the racial prejudices during the 20th century continue to exist in our great nation today. Needless to say our nation has made great strides, but still has a long way to go.

The film Hidden Figures is based on a true story and adapted from the book ‘Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race’ by Margot Lee Shetterly. The movie is centered around a trio of African-American women who worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and played an essential role in sending John Glenn to space amidst a burgeoning Space Race between the United States of America and Russia. Based in Hampton, Virginia in the 1960’s, film depicts the deep racism and sexism prevalent in the United States at that time. The film provides a glimpse of the stark realities that black women faced at the time. From the segregated bathrooms and

In the reading, Jones explores the relationship between class, race, and gender. She states that African Americans, in general, are oppressed, however, black women

Mrs. Harrison believes that black people have to earn the white people’s respect, trust, freedoms and equality. Mrs. Harrison says to Bob, “You mustn’t think in terms of trying to get even with them, you must accept whatever they do for you and try to prove yourself worthy to be entrusted with more” (52). She states that if black people work hard enough, the white people will reward them. She also wants the black community to wait for the white people to “give” them something better, to accept what the white people “do for them.” She compares the idea of black and white people equality to communism. She tells Bob that he needs to make himself worthy of respect. “You know yourself, Bob, a lot of our people are just not worthy, they just don’t deserve anymore than they’re getting” (52). These comments illustrate how class has a great influence on Mrs. Harrison’s point of view on race. Without having to work and being rich, she is ignorant of the racial discrimination that a day to day skilled worker of Bob’s color has to go through. Like her daughter Alice, Mrs. Harrison has been given special treatment by the white people for her lighter skin, and her social and economic class.

Even from a young age, Boyagoda’s daughters learn that the colour of their skin makes them different from the Caucasian race. They will face struggles with the assumption that just because of the colour of their skin, they are unable to do the job of their white counterparts. Even though they are more knowledgeable and experienced, they learn to believe that the white people will get the job. Boyagoda’s daughters will believe because they look different, they may be treated differently in the workplace and may not receive the same promotions and benefits as a white person would. Despite the fact, women of colour are now being more active and receive more powerful roles in films then they were before.

Sojourner Truth explains why women deserve equal rights. In the letter written by Jennifer Lawrence entitled “Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co-stars?”,she explains her beliefs on the equality, or lack thereof, for women. Both of these women give compelling arguments; however, Truth’s argument was stronger than Lawrence’s. Truth presents every counterclaim, has powerful rebuttals and uses rhetorical devices to support her

In the book Among the Hidden, the author uses a very selective choice of vocabulary to convey the mood of events in the story. The mood that the author described is one that is very depressing.

As I just stated, I have spent the majority of this paper discussing women in film; why I think all of this leads well into the analysis of this film is because feminism forgot/didn’t include African American’s. In Lee’s film, set in Brooklyn in 1989, African American’s are still being prejudiced against; in the way that Johnston, Haskell, Rosen, Williams, etc., all discuss what it was to be a woman in Hollywood, omitting the way African American’s were also poorly treated and often vilified, the Caucasian suppressors in this film “forget” about the success of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. It is 1989 and they are still be oppressed. African American’s are free, to an extent. In the same way women had rights in the 20s on, but weren’t treated well is the same way African American’s were treated — and in some places are still

Part 1: Among the Hidden is about a boy named Luke. He is what you would call a shadow child. Lukes mom was NOT supposed to have more than two kids because of government rules. She already has had two boys. Luke was a mistake, he has never had a birthday. Has never had to go to schools or make any friends. There was no one like him… or so he thought. One day he was home alone and he snuck outside. He noticed large mansions that were being built so more people could move next door. This meant that luke could probably never go outside without being seen. If he was seen this would mean that he would have to be killed. If this happened it would not be a good thing. Time skips ahead and all of the houses are built. He’s up in

We live in a world of inequality. In my essay, I want to show some of the differences between the two sexes of our species. The author, Harper Lee, of our recent class read, To Kill a Mockingbird, uses a plethora of themes; I believe the roles of the two aforementioned sexes is a topic well touched upon by Lee. Harper continually presents the idea that women are expected to conform to prevailing idiosyncrasies, responsibilities, and safeguards than their counterparts. Although this theme steps aside for the racial tones of the book, it most certainly must be acknowledged.

Margot Lee Shetterly’s presentation about her book, Hidden Figures, was moving and emotionally provoking. She discussed her writing process and highlighted the achievements of the many women featured in her book. I think what struck me the most is that, until her book was published, I had no idea that there were that many women who were so involved in NASA and other aspects of the “space race”. It saddened me that I was just learning this piece of America’s history as a young adult, and especially in a time of such controversial political change, made me think.

Films have been shown in public for over a century (Earlycinema), and in that time they have become a common and treasured pastime for children and adults. No matter what is going on in the world, film can provide a source of escape and give the viewer a chance to step into another world (McCracken, 2010). However, even in another world it is important for the viewer to see traces of their own world to make a connection to the film. One way that viewers can relate to a fictional world is through relatable characters such as characters of their own race, gender or class. Unfortunately this is not always the case, and oppressed groups tend to be underrepresented in film and media in general.

Inequality is exemplified throughout society in the novel and outside world. Inequality is shown by elaborating on how each race is separate and not every man is equal. Chura writes, “Prior to the 1954 decision, what Benjamin Muse has called an ‘unwholesome stability’ has prevailed in the South, depriving nearly all black of the right to vote and adhering to strict and inviolable de facto and de jure segregation of the races in all areas of social life in which mixing of any kind could result in the suggestion of social equality” (Chura 1.) Demonstrating that not every person is equal, and seen through the children's eyes, this type of discrimination can influence judgment. People are born with the idea that everyone is equal no matter the

Have ever heard of the Hidden Figures? Because I have and it is an amazing what those women did for the space race. In this article “ Hidden Figures” by Maya Wei-Haas explains the use of women to be a computer like calculator for NACA (NASA) .

However, they cannot gain the respects and positions without their strong character-traits. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan are three of the strongest women ever with brave, kind, adroit and so on. They know how to catch their opportunities, in the movie, after receiving the denying from her partner, Paul, she still tries to ask permission from the boss, and gives him the clearest explanation for her troubles with all the respects. Similarly, Mary Jackson does not give up her dream to be an engineer even though she does not have the encouragement from her husband, the one who suppose to believe her in any circumstance. In addition, Dorothy Vaughan shows to her children that everything should be equal that disregard their race or their gender. They always keep the fire inside them to fight for their rights, their family and their future that become the biggest self-motivations. In my opinion, it is so impressive for women who have truly reasons to keep the fire in their mind, they don’t want to see their children live under the inequalities society that the people has more rights because their gender and their race. There is a lesson that you should never give up your works and your dream even it is impossible to