These 5 Black women in tech and many others have played pivotal roles in shaping history and inspiring generations with their remarkable achievements and contributions. Celebrate our remarkable sistas by reading about their achievements surrounding and doing activities commemorating them. Now, let’s celebrate the legacies of these extraordinary individuals who have left an indelible mark on the world.
Doctor Shirley Jackson
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, noted physicist and former head of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), was one of the first two Black American women to receive a doctorate in physics in the U.S. and the first to receive a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Valerie Thomas
Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American registered nurse in the United States. She worked hard to break barriers and pave the way for future generations of black nurses. Her dedication to nursing and equality inspires many today.
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a pioneering mathematician whose calculations were critical to NASA’s success in the early days of space exploration. Her work as a “human computer” helped launch astronauts into orbit and inspired generations of women and people of color to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Melba Roy Mouton
Melba Roy Mouton was an American mathematician who served as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA’s Trajectory and Geodynamics Division in the 1960s and headed a group of NASA mathematicians called “computers”.
Marsha Rea Williams
Marsha Rhea Williams is an American educator and researcher, she is known for being the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. She held many academic positions and was most recently a tenured professor at Tennessee State University.
As we celebrate Black Women’s History Month, let’s not forget to honor the enduring legacies of these 5 important black women in tech and all black women who have enriched our lives and inspired positive change in the world.