Katherine Johnson Research Paper

Katherine Johnson’s mathematical ability and achievement should be implemented into educational curriculum. The fact that her story has been completely hidden for many years from history and the public formulates a multitude of complications that society deals with today. First and foremost, the current narrative is an unfair portrayal of the story that excludes a historically marginalized group of individuals, African American women in STEM. It also muddles the importance of being an engineer or mathematician in a technologically advancing world. Luckily, some progress has been attempted by a few news outlets throughout the last three decades. During the time of the Apollo Missions, the era in which Johnson was actually making the contributions,
The most beneficial time that this topic should be taught is during the later grades of elementary school education. The whole lesson should begin with the idea that there was a race with Russia, during the Cold War around the 1960s and 70s, to reach the moon first. Soon after, students can learn that the United States actually won the race, and this is where Katherine Johnson comes into the picture. Her, and her group of African American women engineers and mathematicians, should be emphasized as much as the astronauts that are glorified today. Students can read biographies, watch interviews, or simply participate in class activities revolved around Johnson and the importance of both men and women of all racial identities in math and science. Ultimately, elementary school is a pivotal time during a child's life and their development, and this is when most aspirations are formulated. If Johnson were introduced at such an influential time in students’ lives, it can change the course of many of these students into routes leading to STEM field careers. There are many benefits that may result by simply teaching the younger generations about such an important person in American science and