Hidden Figures Monument in Dunbar, West Virginia

Katherine Johnson was a mathematical genius whose hand-calculated trajectory sent America's first astronaut into space. Per Atlas Obscura, a life-sized bronze statue at West Virginia State University—her alma mater—commemorates her achievements. Despite growing up in segregated West Virginia where schools barred Black students past eighth grade, Johnson was an exceptional student, entering college at fourteen and graduating summa cum laude at eighteen with degrees in mathematics and French. She worked as one of NASA's critical human computers, most famously calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard's 1961 spaceflight. The statue, unveiled in August 2018 on the eve of her 100th birthday, ensures her revolutionary contributions to the Space Race are no longer hidden.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton