African American Innovators in Tech | Mary W Jackson

Mary W Jackson was the first African-American female engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA. She was an important member of the group of people that made space travel possible in America. She did not have an easy journey in her career because of black segregation and the existing gender bias. However, she broke the status quo and opened the door to opportunities for African-Americans and women in the engineering and technology field.

Mary graduated from Hampton Institute, Virginia, with a dual degree in maths and physical sciences in 1942. Her career in aerospace took off when NACA recruited her in 1951 (later succeeded by NASA in 1958). Mary W Jackson initially worked as a research mathematician in the segregated West Area Computing Unit. After years of working, she eventually joined a training class that promoted her from a mathematician to an engineer.

Mary worked for almost two decades as an aerospace engineer and contributed greatly to the success of NASA in her lifetime. She authored and co-authored many research reports that focused on airflow around aircraft. However, she did not receive as much recognition during her lifetime. Nonetheless, NASA named its headquarters in D.C. after her in 2021 to honor her memory. This honorarium was conferred after a movie that told her story, Hidden Figures, brought her into the limelight in 2016.

Mary W Jackson’s Legacy

Mary W Jackson’s life and achievements inspire women and minorities aspiring to pursue careers in engineering and technology. Her determination and resilience in the face of adversity demonstrate the importance of breaking down barriers in order to achieve greater diversity and representation in the field. Her legacy continues to live on through her work at NASA and the recognition she received posthumously. She serves as a reminder of the importance of advocating for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and the positive impact that can be made through perseverance and hard work.