Mary Jackson

Throughout history there have been very few women who have made a significant contribution like Mary Jackson. Born in Hampton, Virginia, 1921, Mary Jackson was raised during a time of racial segregation. Growing up, Mary had a passion for math and science.  When she got older she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physical science. She worked alongside her two best friends Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan at NASA, both pioneering women in their own right. After her first job as a teacher, Jackson landed herself a position as an engineer at NASA. After working for years and obtaining another degree, she became NASA’s first black female engineer. Throughout her life Mary showed many heroic traits. She was brave, selfless, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Mary Jackson's ambition and selflessness is what makes her deserving of the title “Hero”.

Mary Jackson WorkingNASA [Public domain]Segregation being prominent at this point in history, Mary Jackson has had to struggle through adversity her entire career. In spite of these historic conflicts, Jackson was still able to become very accomplished. “While at the NACA, which later became NASA, Jackson attained the highest rank possible as an engineer without moving into a management position” (“Mary Jackson”). Even with just a basic bachelor's degree, Jackson managed to achieve one of the highest positions in her field, and yet she still managed to move higher than that. Being a black woman during the 50’s makes this accomplishment mean so much more than if she was just a woman. After a couple years working as a human computer, Mary was offered to work for an engineer and work on the wind tunnel. To get a promotion and become an engineer, she would have to take graduate level courses in math and physics.  “Never one to flinch in the face of a challenge, Mary completed the courses, earned the promotion, and in 1958 became NASA’s first black female engineer” (Loff). What makes this an even more incredible feat is that Jackson had to go to court and fight to be able to take these classes, because they were held at an all white high school. Going to school was a very difficult task because she was also working at the same time. But even so, she persevered and got her degree in engineering, and became NASA’s, and most likely the nation’s, first black female engineer.

Now that Mary had achieved her ambitious career goals it was time for her to look for ways to help others. During her final years at NASA Jackson started to expand outside of her career. “Along with her assignments at NASA, Jackson devoted time and energy to helping other minorities in her field, facilitating their career development, particularly making sure they knew the difference between being a mathematician and an engineer, something she had successfully finessed”(Boyd). Jackson was so devoted to helping others that she would take away from her own time to help them with their career. Helping minorities like herself was a significant part of what she did. She used the skills that she had obtained to help others, and to help them pursue the same career she did. “She made a final, dramatic career change, leaving engineering and taking a demotion to fill the open position of Langley’s Federal Women’s Program Manager. There, she worked hard to impact the hiring and promotion of the next generation of all of NASA’s female mathematicians, engineers and scientists” (Loff). Even after working decades at NASA, she still left to go help other women who were pursuing careers in the same field. She chose to take the demotion just so she could teach young engineers like her. Her goals became helping others achieve the level of success that she is known for, as well as, helping accomplish their own career goals.

Mary’s work at NASA helped her make many contributions to science. Many say she was, “A pioneering force for African American women in mathematics and engineering, Jackson was a prominent champion of women and minorities throughout her career”(“Mary Jackson”). Her ambition helped her make great leaps in her career, such as tackling segregation in order to take courses at an all white high school, and becoming NASA’s first black female engineer. She was selfless in the way she chose to put helping others before her own career. She helped blaze a trail for future female and minority engineers to follow. I believe Mary Jackson should be recognized for her heroic efforts and remarkable achievements obtained throughout her career. Today, she can still influence people by what she has done, and is still an inspiration for anyone who learns her story. Because of her significant contributions to science and her compassion for others, Mary Jackson has led the way to inspire others.

Works Cited

BOYD, HERB. “‘Hidden Figures’ No More--Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson of

NASA.” New York Amsterdam News, vol. 107, no. 38, 15 Sept. 2016, p. 28.

EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=118199548&site=ehost-l

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Loff, Sarah. “Mary Jackson Biography.” NASA, NASA, 22 Nov. 2016,

www.nasa.gov/content/mary-jackson-biography.

"Mary Jackson." Gale Biography in Context, Gale, 2016. Biography In Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1650010420/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=b0de42f4.