NASA's Hidden Figures: African American Women Scientists Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

An inspirational group of African American women — all NASA scientists — received the nation's highest civilian honor this week at the Capitol.

They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and a select group of Oklahoma women was able to witness it.

House Science Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and his Democratic predecessor, the late Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, co-sponsored the 2019 legislation that both hoped would make certain that the achievements of these four gifted mathematicians and engineers -- Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson -- documented in the 2016 book "Hidden Figures," would be hidden no more.

"Awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal honors their lives and work," Rep. Lucas (R-OK3) told the crowd gathered in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall, "and ensures that they will continue to inspire Americans for years to come."

Congressman Lucas also did what he could to make sure Oklahomans were inspired, invited a couple of dozen of the state's female leaders in education -- university presidents, legislators, and others.

"It is very exciting to come here," said retiring State Rep. Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon) in an interview, "and to honor women that have made such great contributions to STEM, in general, and to education."

"We are thrilled to be a part of this occasion and represent Oklahoma," said Dr. Mautra Jones, President of Oklahoma City Community College, "and paying homage to these ladies who were tremendous in their efforts to advance our nation."

Rep. Lucas says it's impossible to overstate the contributions of the four women to the success of America's space program in the 1960s and 70s.

"Without their mathematical skills. John Glenn might not have orbited the earth, we might not have gone to the moon," Lucas said in an interview before the ceremony. "They were that important."

Lucas, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) were among the speakers heaping praise on the women, who join an elite group of less than 200 people and institutions that have received the Congressional Gold Medal, first awarded by the Continental Congress in 1776 to George Washington.

In a time when the opportunity for Black women, facing gender and racial discrimination, to be successful in such a male-dominated field, these women persevered, Rep. Jeffries says, because they had faith.

"Faith in the power of American exceptionalism, faith in their brilliance, faith in their creativity, faith in their determination, faith in their excellence, faith in our future, and faith in God," Jeffries told the families of the women, who were present to accept the awards, "and look at what the Lord has done!"