Summary Of Hidden Figures By Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures illustrates the story of the brave African-American women who defied the stereotypes and fought through segregation to become a part of what is considered one of the greatest historical landmarks in American history. Shetterly portrays the lives of the intelligent mathematicians who persevered through adversity and in return received no recognition; however, rather than giving up the women became trailblazers for aspiring engineers who believed they could not gain such an amazing opportunity due to the color of their skin. Throughout the book, Shetterly employs her use of ethos, in other words, is gaining respect from the readers by stating that she grew up in Hampton, Virginia and knew about this story
Throughout the chapters, Shetterly also describes the sacrifices the women made regarding their personal lives, such as Dorothy Vaughn who knew that her departure would "complicate her marriage with Howard, in which time spent apart was already measured in week or months rather than days." Additionally, the author continues to support her thesis by stating specific legislations that had passed during this time that benefited or disadvantaged the Colored people. The author speaks about one legislation when she states, "In 1946. the Supreme Court, in Morgan v. Virginia, held that segregation on interstate buses was illegal." By including the historical turning points within the book, Shetterly is revealing to the audience that during that while these women were battling to prove their intelligence, minorities were battling to gain their civil rights, as well. Shetterly divides the book in an organized and precise manner.Furthermore, She gradually develops the book including important aspects that happened in the women's personal lives and the environment around them; this permits the readers to learn more about the five women and the struggles that they not only went through, but the nation suffered through,