We all know that the first orbit around the moon was a big deal for NASA. There were the brave men that risked their lives to fly in the first space shuttle; however, very few people know how big of a role women played, especially the black women.

Based on a true story, Hidden Figures follows three of the African American women that worked for NASA in the computer room. The three women, Katherine Johnson (Taraji Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), work longer and harder days in order to prove themselves to the white men and women. All of these women are geniuses, but the white people just assume that they are incapable of doing the same job as them.

Hidden Figures is the most empowering movie I have seen in awhile. Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary work ten times harder than any of the white men at NASA, but are continually left behind and ignored. These women did everything that they could in order to move up in the ranks at NASA. They didn’t want to be stuck in the “black only” computer room for the rest of their lives crunching the numbers.

My favorite part of the movie is a scene where Katherine has to run to the other side of NASA’s campus, just to go the black women bathroom, since there is not one where she is working with white men. She is gone for forty minutes a day running to the bathroom and running back. One day, her boss asks her where it is that she goes everyday, and she explains. Her boss, a white man, then goes across the campus to knock down the sign that says “black women restroom” and throws it away, telling Katherine she can go to the bathroom where ever she wants.

The way that the white people at NASA evolve throughout the movie and are more inclusive towards the black women is remarkable. I’m sure that when this actually happened in history, it was more controversial than the movie portrayed. However, I loved how the movie was not controversial, but actually had hints of humor to break the ice.

I would recommend this movie to everyone, especially young girls and women. After leaving the theater, I couldn’t help but feel good. And in my opinion, that’s the best type of movie.