Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film that tells the true story of the vital contributions of three African American women mathematicians to America's space program, Apollo, which led to the first moon landing in July 1969. The film addresses themes of racism and sexism in the turbulent 1960s and the obstacles to personal accomplishment. Hidden Figures was a critical and commercial success.
You can read the book Hidden Figures: the Story of the African-American Women who Helped Win the Race to Space by Margot Lee Shetterly, available in the biography section of the Resource Centre at 920 LEE.
You can read reviews of the film Hidden Figures in The Atlantic, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Time and Variety. Or check out metracritic.com for a compilation of professional reviews.
Also check out Rotten Tomatoes for critic and audience scores, reviews, news, interviews and other information.
• Hidden Figures uncovers the story of the women whose work at NASA helped shape and define U.S. space exploration. Taken as a whole, why is their story significant to our cultural, social, and scientific history?
• In what ways does the race for space parallel the civil rights movement? What kinds of freedoms are being explored in each?
• Some people thought that spending money on space exploration was wasteful when there were so many other problems in the United States. Do you think the U.S. achieved a balance between innovation in space exploration and advancing the civil rights of all its citizens during this time period? Would you have done things differently?
• How are the women in Hidden Figures able to express confidence in their work and abilities? In what ways is that confidence validated by their coworkers? Why is this emotional experience such an important part of their story?
Adapted from: HarperCollins Teacher's Guide