At the time, segregation was a huge barrier for many African American people. It wasn't as easy to go to a good college, or get a good job. It was amazing that Katherine persevered and accomplished this. While working at NASA, the women had to deal with segregation, as well as not being treated equal to men.

    Most African-American women working at NASA were used as computers. They did complex math calculations for wind tunnel experiments. However, men with similar qualifications were considered professional, and women sub-professional. This was unfair for the women. Women had to face other difficulties too, such as not being able to attend briefings, not having their names mentioned in the research and work they did, and being highly outnumbered by men. 

    After Sputnik, a Soviet satellite, launched into space, Katherine was assigned a new job at NASA. Even though the job was a huge accomplishment for Katherine, it was run by white men. Since she was not allowed to attend briefings, she had to be resilient and take matters into her own hands. “I’d ask what had gone on in the briefing - I’d listen and listen, and ask questions,” Katherine said. Finally, after proving herself numerous times, they let her into the briefings.
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Picture: Adam Cuerden, 1962