Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder. It is loosely based on the 2016 non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about three female African-American mathematicians: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who worked at NASA during the Space Race Other stars include Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glen Powell.

The film "Hidden Figures" is based on the true stories of three black women who performed intricate and significant mathematical computations for NASA, a branch of the US government, in the 1960s. America and Russia were competing at the time to create the rockets and technologies required for space exploration. The three women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—had to fight against prejudice in addition to the extreme difficulties of their jobs because America was a segregated nation. Racial segregation is evident in many aspects of their lives, such as the fact that Black Americans are not permitted to vote, attend the same universities or schools as white Americans, or even use the same drinking fountains.

But unless you hear about the amazing things these women accomplished, it's difficult to understand the extent of the unfairness they endured. These three friends weren't just any friends; Mary Jackson, a pivotal player in the American civil rights movement, would go on to battle and win a case that would allow her to attend a college that had previously only accepted white students. Similarly, Katherine Johnson's calculations would become so crucial that she would work with early computers before serving as a consultant for subsequent space missions, such as the Apollo 11 lunar expedition. As a result, the film is a fantastic celebration of these women's amazing accomplishments, which merit much greater recognition.

Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson are the film's three primary protagonists. The film partially centers on the life and career of Taraji P. Henson's character, Katherine Goble Johnson, a key member of the main cast. She works for the Space and Aeronautics Program at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in Langley and is a mathematician, physicist, and space scientist. Being extremely brilliant, she is assigned to the role of informal supervisor at West Computing Group, handling tasks that her boss is unable to perform. The chief of the West Computing Group, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), is neither recognized nor compensated as a supervisor since she is an African American woman in the 1960s. In the main cast, Janelle Monae portrays Mary Jackson, a dedicated wife, mother, and scientist who is seen battling against racial discrimination to become the first African American woman engineer at NASA. She is also friends with Dorothy, and in one of the film's opening sequences, the two are seen traveling to work together and fixing an old car. Every judge, police officer, NASA employee, and member of the West Computing Group is presented as a racial prejudice that the film's protagonists must overcome. The three ladies must continuously fight against the attitudes and systems of white, male-dominated society while enduring various forms of racial and gender oppression throughout the film. By the end of the film, every member of the main cast has likewise achieved some

kind of personal accomplishment and triumph.

A literary work's themes are the core, frequently universal concepts it explores. Numerous important concepts are raised in "Hidden Figures," all of which contribute to a deeper comprehension and admiration of the universe and human nature in it. The equality of gender and race is one of the most important themes. Katherine is a gifted mathematician and an African-American girl. Because she is a Black woman, she must deal with racial prejudice and other forms of inequality. The film emphasizes how important it is to fight for equality and progress, especially during the 1960s when racial laws were still in effect. In actuality, every American, regardless of gender, race, or skin color, is either directly or indirectly influencing the growth of the country. The film also emphasizes friendship and faith as major themes. This supports the film's determination, which is yet another important motif. By demonstrating a strong sense of resolve, each of the girls is able to overcome their unique social obstacles, including discrimination based on gender and race. Not to mention, the film also dealt with the concept of transformation. The topic of change appears throughout the story in a variety of ways, such as new discoveries, personal development, or society aadvancement. hose who can adapt to change are more likely to succeed than those who can't, as change is always unavoidable. All of this makes it much easier to sort through and separate the various concepts I took away from the book. My understanding has truly been framed by it, and I would feel a lot more at ease identifying the various perspectives I may adopt.

The early 1960s, a pivotal period in American history, is when the movie takes place. The movie takes place in the years preceding the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. Because it sheds light on the difficulties and hardships the protagonists encounter and the major obstacles they must surmount as African Americans, the historical background and location of the movie are very crucial. Both the historical background and the chronological progression of the plot in the film itself reflect these themes; the narrative of the film dates progress with historical progress for civil rights in the United States. The film also highlights the progressive nature of the space program and how it had developed a racial equality far beyond that of everyday life at the time.

"Hidden Figures" tells the story of the Space Race and takes place during a period of significant change in America. In order to determine which nation had superior science, technology, and space flight, the US and the USSR competed in the 1960s in what is known as the Space Race. One could argue that the events in the movie are significantly influenced by the historical background of the Space Race and the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans fought for social justice during the 1950s and 1960s through the Civil Rights Movement. We find it odd that bright brains like Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson were denied the recognition and significant work they merited due to the color of their skin. One of the main themes and components of the historical setting of "Hidden Figures," however, is this very real and depressing issue that existed in America at the time. Theodore Melfi, the film's director, said that the three main protagonists' fortitude and courage drew him to the subject. He believed that their narrative should be conveyed and that the Civil Rights Movement was a topic that was highly important in the social and political climate of today. He added that "in this day and age we still have a long way to go, but the fact that these women did this then, accomplished all that they did, is such a strong sense of empowerment for all of us."

He considered the Civil Rights Movement's historical background to be crucial when creating this movie. It is obvious that the historical setting serves as more than just a setting for the narrative; throughout the movie, the events, attitudes, and social mores of the era have a direct and substantial influence on the plot and the lives of the individuals. Understanding a film's historical background is essential to comprehending its overall meaning and audience engagement because it allows us to assess how accurate the movie is to actual events and how these events have influenced the characters' lives.

However, it provides a deeper comprehension of the narrative overall and aids in recognizing the characters' significance, the broader effects of certain incidents, and the continuity between the past and present. This leads us to the conclusion that we would be unable to completely appreciate the courage and accomplishments of Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson if we did not set the story in its actual historical context. Because of the influence of the Civil Rights Movement, we would not understand that their effort was not only advantageous to the Space Race but also revolutionary in rejecting the expectations and actions of people around them.