Hidden Figures

Just saw the movie Hidden Figures, and it made me feel hopeful. Why? Three black women worked for NASA during the height of Jim Crow South, and these women, by being smart, daring, and unafraid, were able to endure the hardships and prejudice not only against Blacks, but against women. But against all odds, these women came out on top. They did it with intellect and the power of conviction. And the men who had chosen to close the doors to them had to stop and pause and let them in-because these three women demanded it.
Two things really stood out as remarkable:

1. The audience was filled with children, mostly middle schoolers. I was afraid, since they were so chatty, throwing popcorn-doing what middle schoolers can do. Yet, the lights went out and-silence. Not only that, there were so many moments where the women in the film would not back down-sort of like Rocky moments for women, and the kids cheered. They also cheered against the ugly racism when it reared its ugly head. And you know what I thought? The parents of these children have done such a good job, since these ten and eleven year olds already realize what is WRONG in the world, and also what is RIGHT. These kids made me believe. They also made me believe I, too, can fight against what will clearly be WRONG in the world in the next few years, and perhaps I can win.

AND

2. These women worked for NASA in the late fifties, early sixties, sort of pre-feminism. Yet, two out of three had husbands who shared the work and believed that their girlfriends/wives could rise to the top. In other words, the men thought of the women as equals. Considering this was decades ago, these men were as remarkable as the women in the film.

And boy was I impressed in their ability to FIGHT for what is RIGHT.