Mary Jackson
1921–2005 — USA
Era: Modern
Brilliance: 7/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Composite Index: 63
NASA's first Black female engineer. Fought a court to attend classes.
"We will always have to fight for our rights, but I would rather die fighting than live on my knees."
Biography
Mary Jackson broke racial and gender barriers as NASA's first Black female engineer, pioneering aeronautical research during the Space Race while fighting systemic discrimination. Her legal battle to attend integrated classes in Virginia exemplified her determination to advance both her career and civil rights. Jackson's work on wind tunnel experiments and aircraft designs contributed significantly to NASA's aeronautical programs through the 1980s.
Key Facts
- Filed a lawsuit in 1960 to attend an all-white high school extension program required for her engineering promotion
- Worked for NASA's Langley Research Center for 34 years, conducting critical aeronautical research on supersonic aircraft
- Earned her engineering degree from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), a historically Black university
- Mentored countless young Black scientists and engineers, becoming a champion for diversity in STEM
- Featured in the 2016 film 'Hidden Figures' which brought her story to mainstream recognition
Black female engineer who sued for equality, then reached for the stars.
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