In
the blockbuster movie, Hidden Figures,
a little known story is told about a group of African-American women who helped
NASA accomplish space travel. Adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly's book Hidden
Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women
Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, the film focuses on three
real-life African-American female pioneers: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan,
and Mary Jackson, who were part of NASA's team of human "computers."
This was a group made up of mostly women who calculated by hand the complex
equations that allowed space heroes like Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard,
and John Glenn to travel safely to space. Through sheer tenacity,
force of will, and intellect, they ensured their stamp on American history—even
if their story has remained obscured from public view.
In
June 1941, with war raging in Europe, President Franklin Roosevelt needed to
ensure the growth of the federal workforce. He issued an Executive Order
which banned "discrimination in the employment of workers in defense
industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national
origin" (notice that gender is not included). Six months later, after
the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into the throes of war,
NASA and Langley began recruiting African-American women with college degrees
to work as human computers. As you might assume, African-American computers
were paid less than their white counterparts and relegated to the segregated
west section of the Langley campus, where they had to use separate dining and
bathroom facilities. [i]
In
the film, Hidden Figures, human
computer Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, was shown running back
to the west campus several times a day just to use the rest room; the colored rest room; 45 minutes round trip.
Of course her boss, Al Harrison, played by Kevin Costner, was growing more and
more frustrated with this woman who, hired to help with John Glenn’s
trajectory, kept disappearing for long periods of time.
One
rainy day, Mr. Harrison confronted a soaking wet and frustrated Ms. Johnson
saying, ‘Where are you disappearing to? Where do you go all the time? I need
you here!’ And her loud and rebellious response (you’ve gotta watch the film)
caused Mr. Harrison stop what he was doing, go over to the west campus with an
iron crow bar, and proceed to batter down the “Colored restroom” signs in front
of all the employees. When the sign came crashing to floor Harrison said to all
present, ‘There won’t be separate bathrooms anymore. Here at NASA, we all pee
the same color.’
This
moment in the movie stood out to me as much as any other meaningful and moving
scene, of which there were many. You see, the Jim Crow culture of separate but
equal, caused a problem for everyone. This stands as a good example of when one
person, or group of people are treated differently or even oppressed, we are
all affected. We all pay a price. The work that NASA was doing, and does, put
lives at stake. Especially early on during the so-called space race when so
much was unknown and unprecedented. The work Katherine Johnson was doing for
these astronauts was so vital to their safety and protection of their lives.
Her main job leading up to and during the mission was to double-check and
reverse engineer the trajectory calculations. Having her continually leave the
control room to use a restroom a half mile away and be absent from crucial
duties simply because of the color of her skin was ridiculous, irresponsible,
and detrimental to the mission. It is documented and included in the movie,
John Glenn himself requesting that Johnson specifically check and confirm
trajectories. He told the head engineer, “Get the girl to check the numbers...
If she says the numbers are good...
I'm ready to go." You need that woman in the room!
The
scripture readings for today are completely wrapped up in our worth. God
declares that you and I have worth. That those who differ from us have worth.
St. Paul reminds us that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in
us. These are beautiful and remarkable words; ones that tell us that we are of
invaluable worth, but they are also words that demand something from us. If we
are a holy people; God’s temple, then we are only so if we love our neighbors
as ourselves. If we are a holy people; God’s temple, then we are only so if we
not only forgive, but love our enemies.
Jesus
teaches unprecedented mercy and forgiveness: “If anyone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn the other also; and
if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go
one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you…” These are not
instructions that undergird or encourage individualism, but rather instructions
for those who live in a godly community; a temple that is holy and glorifies
God.
Jesus
then culminates this part of his teaching, which goes on for the next couple of
chapters, by telling his disciples, and as always, the reader and hearer of
this message, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Now,
before you make up your mind that this is impossible and you shut your ears to
the instruction of being as perfect as God, there is some good news here. It
doesn’t let us off the hook, but a deeper understanding of this teaching is
quite wonderful.
Let’s
come back to the story of Katherine Johnson and her mathematics
for a workable trajectory for John Glenn’s travel in orbit. “Be perfect,
therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The word we translate “perfect”
is actually the Greek word telos and implies less a moral perfection
than it does reaching one’s intended outcome. For example, the telos of
an arrow shot by an archer is to reach its target. The telos of a peach
tree is to yield peaches.[ii] The telos
of NASA’s mission in 1962 was to bring John Glenn and his crew back to Earth
safely. Telos, could very well be
used synonymously with trajectory.
If
our trajectory is realizing the kingdom of God, which Jesus describes at the
onset of this fifth chapter of Matthew with the Sermon on the Mount, then the
equations or formulas we must follow include loving our neighbors as well as
our enemies; welcoming those who are not our family and friends; to go the
extra mile for another; to pray for those who wish ill of us. These are
examples of the steps we must take to meet our destination; to meet our goal,
which is the Kingdom.
Katherine
Johnson wrote these elaborate equations on a huge chalkboard in that NASA
control room. Our huge chalkboard must include endless equations or examples of
acts of love. Striving for the Kingdom, practicing acts of love and mercy and
peace are what Jesus is telling us. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.” In other words, get on the trajectory that leads you to
love and charitable thoughts of others. Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry says
in many of his great sermons, “If it ain’t got nothing to do with love, then it
ain’t got nothing to do with God.” And he’s right. If it ain’t got nothing to
do with love it doesn’t belong on our road map.
From
the collect for 7 Epiphany, Let us pray.
O
Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing:
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is
love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue. In Christ’s Name. Amen.
[i] Blitz,
Matt. (2017, February 3). The True Story
of “Hidden Figures” and the Women Who Crunched the Numbers for NASA www.popularmechanics.com
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