Katherine Johnson's Early Years at NACA: Breaking Barriers

The transcript details Katherine's career at NACA, where she worked as a human computer in 1953. Her curiosity led her to question the purpose of her calculations, eventually allowing her to attend meetings, a first for women at NACA. Her assertiveness and involvement in projects made her stand out, leading to special project requests from engineers. The transcript concludes with a review of her achievements and questions about her role.

What was the primary role of the African American women at NACA in 1953?

• To conduct pilot training

• To design aircraft

• To perform complex mathematical calculations

• To manage flight schedules

What motivated Katherine to attend the engineers' meetings?

• She wanted to become an engineer

• She was curious about the projects

• She was asked to take notes

• She wanted to meet new people

How did Katherine's participation in meetings affect her career?

• She was given a pay raise

• She was promoted to a managerial position

• She was recognized and requested for special projects

• She was transferred to another department

What nickname was given to the group of African American women mathematicians at NACA?

• Number crunchers

• Lady calculators

• Math girls

• Human computers

What was Katherine's first major achievement at NACA?

• Becoming an astronaut

• Winning an award

• Getting a promotion

• Attending meetings