Margot Lee Shetterly


Full Name and Common Aliases


Margot Lee Shetterly is an American author known for her critically acclaimed book _Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space_.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on November 17, 1979, Margot Lee Shetterly is still active in her career as a writer and historian.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Margot Lee Shetterly holds American nationality and works primarily as an author. She has also worked as a journalist and historian.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in Hampton, Virginia, Margot Lee Shetterly developed a strong interest in history at an early age. Her fascination with the stories of African Americans who had made significant contributions to the country's space program led her to research the lives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden.

Major Accomplishments


Shetterly's book _Hidden Figures_ has been a huge commercial success, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. The book was also adapted into a successful film in 2016, directed by Theodore Melfi and produced by Disney. The movie received critical acclaim for its portrayal of the African American women who worked at NASA during the early years of the space program.

Notable Works or Actions


In addition to _Hidden Figures_, Shetterly has written several other books, including _Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto_ and _The Essential Hidden Figures_. She has also contributed articles and essays on various topics related to history and social justice to publications such as _The New York Times_ and _The Washington Post_.

Impact and Legacy


Margot Lee Shetterly's work has had a significant impact on the way people perceive the contributions of African Americans in the field of space exploration. Her books have helped to bring attention to the often-overlooked stories of these women, who played crucial roles in the success of NASA's early years.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Margot Lee Shetterly is widely quoted and remembered for her groundbreaking research on the contributions of African American women in the space program. Her book _Hidden Figures_ has become a classic in the field of history, offering a powerful example of how important it is to tell the stories of those who have been overlooked or marginalized.

Through her work, Shetterly has inspired a new generation of readers and researchers to explore the rich history of African American contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her dedication to sharing these stories has helped to promote greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of human achievement in the field.

Quotes by Margot Lee Shetterly

I was surprised how little I knew about the significant contributions to aviation that had happened right there in Hampton, Virginia.
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I was surprised how little I knew about the significant contributions to aviation that had happened right there in Hampton, Virginia.
How do we fill the need for technology workers, people who have computer skills and math and science skills? How do we get a more diverse science workforce? These are all issues - I would look at these documents that were from the '50s and '60s and '70s, and you'd swear they were written two weeks ago because the issues are the same.
"
How do we fill the need for technology workers, people who have computer skills and math and science skills? How do we get a more diverse science workforce? These are all issues - I would look at these documents that were from the '50s and '60s and '70s, and you'd swear they were written two weeks ago because the issues are the same.
I'm not a scientist or a mathematician.
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I'm not a scientist or a mathematician.
It has been very rare to see a black woman as a protagonist. And also as three-dimensional people - mathematicians, mothers, wives, complicated people, not perfect.
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It has been very rare to see a black woman as a protagonist. And also as three-dimensional people - mathematicians, mothers, wives, complicated people, not perfect.
I started to think of 'Hidden Figures' as the first part of a mid-century African-American trilogy.
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I started to think of 'Hidden Figures' as the first part of a mid-century African-American trilogy.
Our next-door neighbour taught physics at Hampton University. Our church abounded with mathematicians. Supersonics experts held leadership positions in my mother's sorority, and electrical engineers sat on the board of my parents' college alumni associations.
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Our next-door neighbour taught physics at Hampton University. Our church abounded with mathematicians. Supersonics experts held leadership positions in my mother's sorority, and electrical engineers sat on the board of my parents' college alumni associations.
Five of my father's seven siblings made their bones as engineers or technologists, and some of his best buddies - David Woods, Elijah Kent, Weldon Staton - carved out successful engineering careers at Langley.
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Five of my father's seven siblings made their bones as engineers or technologists, and some of his best buddies - David Woods, Elijah Kent, Weldon Staton - carved out successful engineering careers at Langley.
My dad joined Langley in 1964 as a co-op student and retired in 2004 an internationally respected climate scientist.
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My dad joined Langley in 1964 as a co-op student and retired in 2004 an internationally respected climate scientist.
As a callow 18-year-old leaving for college, I'd seen my home town as a mere launching pad for a life in worldlier locales, a place to be from rather than a place to be.
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As a callow 18-year-old leaving for college, I'd seen my home town as a mere launching pad for a life in worldlier locales, a place to be from rather than a place to be.
I guess it's inevitable that I would become somebody who would write about scientists.
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I guess it's inevitable that I would become somebody who would write about scientists.
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