Hidden Figures: Central Ideas, Themes, and Social Issues

"Dorothy Vaughan was a pioneer. She joined the NACA in 1943, the first year the agency began hiring African-American women as computers, and she was the first to be promoted into a management position."

What is the central idea of this passage?

• • Dorothy Vaughan faced many challenges in her job.

• • Dorothy Vaughan became the first African-American woman hired by NACA.

• • Dorothy Vaughan was a groundbreaking figure who helped other women succeed.

• • Dorothy Vaughan worked as a teacher before joining NACA.

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"The sight of women wearing coveralls and working at filling stations, a job that used to be just for men, no longer turned heads. Women now did all kinds of jobs—shined shoes, worked in the shipyard, and staffed offices."

What theme does this passage illustrate?

• The growing independence of women during wartime.

•  The challenges of working in a male-dominated field.

• The importance of fashion in the 1940s.

• The need for specialized training.

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"For many African Americans, World War II was an opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. Black men enlisted in the military in large numbers... Women also enlisted in the army, where they were called WACs (for Women’s Army Corps)."

What social issue is addressed in this passage?

• Equal job opportunities for women and men.

•  Women working only in the army.

• Lack of military service options for African Americans.

• African Americans seeking new opportunities and roles during World War II.

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"Growing up in Hampton, Virginia, I assumed the face of science was brown like mine... I knew so many African Americans working in science, math, and engineering that I thought that’s just what Black folks did."

What is the central idea of this passage?

• Science careers were only available to African Americans in Virginia.

• Few people in Hampton worked in science.

• • The narrator believed that African Americans commonly held careers in science and math.

• • Science was not a popular field for African Americans.

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"Dorothy assumed the bulletin was meant for the eyes of the white, well-to-do students... It never occurred to her that Langley would accept an application from an African-American woman."

What theme is shown here?

• The limitations of education for African Americans

• Overcoming barriers to career opportunities.

• • Only men were hired for mathematical jobs.

• • The role of science in society.

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"The contributions made by these African-American women have never been heralded, but they deserve to be remembered... These women should be celebrated not just because they are Black or because they are women, but because they are an important part of American history."

What theme does this passage emphasize?

• The lack of educational opportunities for women.

• Recognizing the overlooked contributions of African-American women in history.

• The challenges of space travel.

• African Americans working as engineers.

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"Technically, African Americans had the right to vote. However, many local laws made it impossible for them to do so... African Americans were deprived of these civil rights as well."

What social issue does this passage highlight?

• • The right of women to vote.

• • The increase in Black voter turnout.

• Voting restrictions faced by African Americans.

• • The limitations of educational funding.

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"Dorothy’s mother taught her how to read before she was old enough to start school. The family moved to West Virginia when Dorothy was eight."

What is the main idea of this passage?

• • Dorothy’s early love for reading and education.

• • Dorothy’s family moved frequently.

• • Dorothy did not enjoy school.

• Dorothy’s family was very large.

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"For women like Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson, World War II opened the door to a career as a professional mathematician."

What theme is illustrated here?

• Limited opportunities for women in wartime.

• • The importance of being a teacher during the war.

• •  How World War II created new career opportunities for African-American women.

• • The challenges of fighting in the military.

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"Even though they served in separate Black infantry regiments, usually overseen by white officers, Black men believed their loyalty and patriotism would help Blacks to earn rights that white citizens had."

What social issue does this passage address?

• • Black soldiers served under Black officers only.

• • Segregation in the military and the hope for civil rights progress.

• • Black soldiers earned equal rights after serving.

• • Black soldiers were discouraged from serving in the military.

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