Themes

The Power of Community

The protagonists of Hidden Figures are successful in part because of
the power of community. Their communities and the strong ties the
protagonists and their families have to those communities help them
move forward. Dorothy Vaughan’s extended family and the
community she creates with the other Black computers at Langley
allow her family to thrive. Due to a family connection, Katherine
Johnson finds out about the opportunity to work at Langley. Mary
Jackson’s ties to the community inspire her to demand more equal
treatment, and work to ensure others have an even playing field.
Many of the West Computers draw strength from their church
community and the Black community in general. Many of the women
were part of sororities, like Alpha Kappa Alpha at historically all-
Black colleges. The networks that they formed with their sororities
and churches shape their interactions throughout their lives. The West
Computers form a second family, a community of working women.
For many of the women who have left their own communities to work
in Hampton, their work family is a lifeline.

Discrimination
The women of Hidden Figures face both racism and sexism at every
turn. The whole of the novel shows how they continually rise above
these obstacles, and their successes illustrate the positive outcomes
that a more egalitarian environment can foster. There are several
examples of how American exceptionalism is thwarted by the racism
and sexism that its citizens allow to flourish unchecked, including the
challenges that arise when segregated schools lead to a dearth of
available talent for the Space Race.
Against the backdrop of Jim Crow laws in NACA’s home base of
Virginia, the hiring manager at Langley hires Black women as human
computers but must keep them working in segregated facilities. Not
only is this a discouraging and dehumanizing environment for these
women, but the logistical challenges also deny them aspects to the
very resources they need to excel in the jobs for which they were
hired. Racism and sexism keep the United States from being a model
for democracy around the world, and Hidden Figures shows again
and again how the country’s potential is held back by discrimination.
Katherine, Mary, Dorothy, and the other women at Langley are able
to succeed compared to many of their peers, but they have to work
much harder and struggle against more preconceived notions about
the limitations of their ability than white men and women do. It seems
clear that these Black women would have risen to even greater heights
if the America they lived in didn’t present them with such obstacles,
making it clear that the United States was working against its own
interest by enforcing the antiquated racist segregation laws.

The Roles of Persistence versus Luck in Gaining Opportunities

The hard work, persistence, and talent of the women of Hidden
Figures are often juxtaposed against the fact that their opportunities
often arise following an instance of serendipity. For example, the
women of Langley can secure their positions because of a labour
shortage during World War II. This labour shortage caused
management to investigate talent pools they normally wouldn’t have
explored women and Black people. Dorothy reads about some of the
other Black women computers in the newspaper and applies for a job,
which ends up defining the rest of her career. When the war is ending,
Dorothy takes a chance and buys an apartment in town. While others
are worried about holding on to their positions, Dorothy takes this
chance to stay in Hampton, and it ultimately pays off. When
Katherine attends a family wedding, her family and some of their
connections help her get a job at Langley. Shetterly makes a point of
noting that when these opportunities arise, the women are prepared to
use their skills to rise to the challenge. This preparedness coupled
with luck and skill is key to their success.