Essay Samplee about Dorothy Vaughan: The Heart of NASA’s History

Graduating top of her class, and earning a degree in Mathematics. Being quick on her feet and able to solve problems at the drop of a hat. Having a warm presence that made her reliable and trustworthy. In the early 1900s all of these circumstances would have you to be rather successful, with a decent income and respect and engagement from your co-workers. However if you happen to be a Black Woman who grew up during these times, your luck would be bare.   Dorothy Vaughan attended Wilberforce University after they offered her a scholarship, which was the only way she was able to afford the education. She got her Masters Degree in Mathematics, and she was recommended to continue for a Grad Degree. However, the Great Depression resulted in tuition increasing. This prevented her from fulfilling her college education. As an African American Women, even with a degree, the main job she could obtain was a teacher. Despite all of this, her math was more accurate compared to several men in the engineering department at NACA. Because of this impressive ability, she was hired at NACA during the Cold War. After 2 years of working as the manager for the segregated west computing wing, Vaughan finally became the first African American Manager at NACA in history. Dorothy Vaughan takes a stand against racial prejudices while becoming the first black supervisor at NACA, educating other black women within her workplace on current technology concepts. These accomplishments allowed her to overcome the challenges of working at NACA as a black woman.

Despite the controversy between hiring many different demographics at NACA, it was truly the only way Americans were able to land on the moon. After NACA announced that they would start to allow diverse employees to work there, more Black women applied than any other demographic. 

“[...]it's easy to overlook the people who paved the way for the agency's current robust and diverse workforce and leadership. Those who speak of NACA's pioneers rarely mention the name Dorothy Vaughan, but as the head of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ 1(NACA’s) segregated West Area Computing Unit from 1949 until 1958, Vaughan was both a respected mathematician and NACA's first African-American manager.” (Shetterly 1) 

Because of the popularity NACA received from the Cold War and Space Race, many young Americans started becoming more and more interested in Aerospace engineering and NACA’s workforce. When the Space Race was picking up speed and people started to become anxious, NACA started hiring people of all genders and races. This was how Dorothy Vaughan was able to be admitted into NACA. Since they did not have computers that would do the calculations for them, they needed women to be computers/calculators. Though this was the case, the process with hiring Black women was a lot more complicated and strenuous than hiring white women. Despite all of this, they still had segregated facilities for people of color. Thus, proving how difficult it was for women of color to be hired for any position at NACA.

Vaughan's job consisted of being a manager even though she did not receive the title/recognition, or the income for it. When she tried applying for the manager role, she was dismissed because “colored folk do not receive manager positions”.

“Vaughan and other black women computers worked in the West Area Computing unit and used facilities separate from white women. In 1949, Vaughan had a new opportunity. The white woman who supervised the West Area Computing unit died. In April, Vaughan was promoted to acting head. She became the first African American supervisor in NACA, although she was not officially named as permanent supervisor until 1951.” (Watts 1)

 She was insensent with becoming a manager. She left notes, spoke to higher ups and higher ranking engineers. Eventually, after fighting for a role that was rightfully hers, she received her manager position. Even though she tried to get other higher ranking manager positions at NACA, it never worked out. However in 1971 she retired from NACA after having a fulfilling career. She takes a stand for herself, and the other women of color at NACA by finally getting that manager position. She proved that hard work is fulfilling, despite the oppression that incessantly followed her. Even being in a vulnerable position, she used strategies, and tools. But most importantly, she was determined to succeed against all of the circumstances around her begging her to fail. Even with a college degree and fulfilling education, she still struggled to find work. Regardless of being an important factor in the Space program and being an extremely intelligent engineer, she lacked the respect of her white boss and co-workers because of her race and gender, even after becoming a manager. Yet she still took a stand and stayed. Not only for herself, not only for her children, but for the other Black Women at NACA as well. Since she stayed and her passion was infinite, Vaughan got to work at a segregation-free NACA for about 13 years!

Vaughan made it a point to go out of her way and help the other black women in the Segregated West Computing Wing.

“Vaughan joined the Analysis and Computation Division. With electronic computers coming into use, she learned a programming language. [...] She was an advocate for the women who worked in her unit as well as other women in the organization. In addition, Vaughan was often requested to work on special projects, where accuracy in calculations was important.” (Watts 1)

The IBS is a machine that NACA started using and implementing into their research for their calculations. Vaughan knew when the IBS was ready for use, NACA would have no need for the black women in the West Computing Wing anymore. She went out of her way to teach the other women how to code and manage the IBS. Despite being able to spend more time honing her skills and becoming more fluent in this new technology, she defends and encourages other Black women at NACA, because she is able to recognize the truth that she was once in a very similar position to them.

These achievements enabled her to handle the difficulties of working at NACA. Vaughan fights racial prejudices through becoming NACA's first black manager and informing other black women in her workplace on current technology concepts. She took advantage of the fact that NACA was hiring people of color, and instead of waiting for an opportunity to knock at her door, she knocked at theirs. Setting an example and goal for her fellow coworkers. And despite the difficulties that came with working in such a technological advanced and competitive field, she lent a hand even if it risked her own career. Having to work three times harder than her white co-workers to just have a chance at NACA, and then barely being regarded in its history until recently is an unfair act that she never deserved. It’s been proven that Vaughan looked out for the other black women at NACA. Due primarily to this, she not only looked out for their friends and family, but for the future as well. Letting NACA prosper and gain an amazing mind by working there, and being an advocate for black women of all ages, she deserves a reserved part in history that teaches about the kind and hardworking soul of Dorothy Vaughan. A mother, wife, daughter, and friend. But most importantly, an engineer who realized that a machine doesn’t build or code itself, it's the people you coach, put time into, and have faith in that do. Her legacy encompasses all of these terms by taking a stand towards them every day she walked through NACA’s doors.