NASA is recognizing one of its “hidden figures” by naming its main office after the first African American female engineer to work at the space agency.
The Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. honors the late Jackson, who became an engineer in 1958, the same year that NASA was founded. Largely unknown to the general public during her lifetime, Jackson’s story was part of the focus of the 2016 feature film “Hidden Figures,” with Janelle Monáe portraying the trailblazing engineer.
“Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement on Wednesday (June 24). “Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space.”
“She helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology,” said Bridenstine, whose office is on the ninth floor of the newly-named building.
That is so great!
I just read about the Mexican Americans who served in Korea during the Korean War and were passed over for recognition…they were listed as ‘white’ on all their paperwork. they made up 10% of the service members but only 3 1/2 % of the the population!
Obviously the draft bureau was a little biased!