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Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Power of Community

The protagonists of Hidden Figures are successful in part because of the power of community. Their communities and the strong ties the protagonists and their families have to those communities help them move forward. Dorothy Vaughan’s extended family and the community she creates with the other Black computers at Langley allow her family to thrive. Due to a family connection, Katherine Johnson finds out about the opportunity to work at Langley. Mary Jackson’s ties to the community inspire her to demand more equal treatment, and also work to ensure others have an even playing field. 

Many of the West Computers draw strength from their church community and the Black community in general. Many of the women were part of sororities, like Alpha Kappa Alpha at historically all-Black colleges. The networks that they formed with their sororities and churches shape their interactions throughout their lives. The West Computers form a second family, a community of working women. For many of the women who have left their own communities to work in Hampton, their work family is a lifeline. 

Discrimination

The women of Hidden Figures face both racism and sexism at every turn. The whole of the novel shows how they continually rise above these obstacles, and their successes illustrate the positive outcomes that a more egalitarian environment can foster. There are several examples of how American exceptionalism is thwarted by the racism and sexism that its citizens allow to flourish unchecked, including the challenges that arise when segregated schools lead to a dearth of available talent for the Space Race.

Against the backdrop of Jim Crow laws in NACA’s home base of Virginia, the hiring manager at Langley hires Black women as human computers but must keep them working in segregated facilities. Not only is this a discouraging and dehumanizing environment for these women, but the logistical challenges also deny them aspects to the very resources they need to excel in the jobs for which they were hired. Racism and sexism keep the United States from being a model for democracy around the world, and Hidden Figures shows again and again how the country’s potential is held back by discrimination. 

Katherine, Mary, Dorothy, and the other women at Langley are able to succeed compared to many of their peers, but they have to work much harder and struggle against more preconceived notions about the limitations of their ability than white men and women do. It seems clear that these Black women would have risen to even greater heights if the America they lived in didn’t present them with such obstacles, making it clear that the United States was working against its own interest by enforcing the antiquated racist segregation laws. 

The Roles of Persistence versus Luck in Gaining Opportunities

The hard work, persistence, and talent of the women of Hidden Figures are often juxtaposed against the fact that their opportunities often arise following an instance of serendipity. For example, the women of Langley are able to secure their positions because of a labor shortage during World War II. This labor shortage caused management to investigate talent pools they normally wouldn’t have explored—women and Black people. Dorothy reads about some of the other Black women computers in the newspaper and applies for a job, which ends up defining the rest of her career. When the war is ending, Dorothy takes a chance and buys an apartment in town. While others are worried about holding on to their positions, Dorothy takes this chance to stay in Hampton, and it ultimately pays off. When Katherine attends a family wedding, her family and some of their connections help her get a job at Langley. Shetterly makes a point of noting that when these opportunities arise, the women are prepared to use their skills to rise to the challenge. This preparedness coupled with luck and skill is key to their success.

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