www.thehbcuadvocate.com Katherine Johnson FROM PAGE 1


children, Johnson had a brilliant mind from an early age. She finished high school at the age of 14 and enrolled at West Virginia State University, a historically black college, where she graduated summa cum laude at the age of 18. After graduating she became a teacher at a black public school in Marion, Virginia


before becoming


the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University. Knowing that it would be difficult for an African-American woman to break into, she still decided on a field as a research mathematician. That decision eventually brought her to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), before it was superseded by NASA.


Many of her breakthroughs at


NASA in her early years were made during a still-segregated America and being-so, she faced much adversity and prejudice, while often being written off by peers who had yet to see her as the great mathematician she was. Long had her enormous and essential contributions to math and science gone overlooked and under-appreciated. In 2015, President Barack


Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom stating that “black women have been a part of every great movement in American history – even if they weren't always given a voice.” In 2016, Johnson's story was told


in the biopic Hidden Figures where she was portrayed by Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson. Alongside Johnson, the biopic also told the story of her NASA colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, portrayed by Octavia Spencer Janelle


Monáe, respectively.


and The


film itself was nominated for three


academy awards and was hailed by critics for it's acting, historical accuracy, and bringing to light three important figures in our history. These exceptional women had often been overlooked the Jim Crow era in which they lived in the United States..


Most recently, in November


of 2019, Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner alongside her colleagues and friends Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded to those having


performed an achievement


with impact on American history and culture likely to be recognized in that recipient’s field for years to come.


After Johnson's passing,


Senator Kaine released the following statement: “Katherine Johnson helped realize one of humankind's oldest dreams – to reach the stars. Hidden no longer, she will be remembered for her contributions to math and science and forever stand as a role model for those whose talents are not fully recognized because of prejudice. I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing, and my condolences go out to her family, my fellow Virginians, the NASA community, and everyone else who held her as a hero.”


Katherine Johnson was and


will remain a true inspiration in overcoming adversity; a role model not only for African American women but for anyone overlooked in their field because of the prejudices they face. She will forever be remembered for her contributions history.


to American Photo of the Month


Volume 3 Number 4


Texas Southern “We are excited


FROM PAGE 1 partnership with the


about the Houston


Alumnae Chapter and the opportunity to provide our students with international


experiences by way


of the generous financial donation from Delta Sigma Theta,” said Vice President of University Advancement Melinda Spaulding. “We ‘ve enjoyed working with the chapter members to ensure the wishes of Ms. Anna Pearl Barrett were honored through international study experiences for our students.”


Representatives from TSU, the


Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the office of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the Barrett family, and others were present at the reception.


Barrett, for whom the endowment


is named, was an alumna of Texas Southern University and the first TSU exchange student to study in Spain. As an undergraduate at TSU, Barrett pledged and became a member of the Delta Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Two of her pledge mates were the Honorable Barbara Jordan and Alice Byrd Webb.


She


went on to have a career in education becoming a Spanish teacher in the Houston Independent School District


Harvey Museum FROM PAGE 2


and becoming a Bilingual Education Consultant.


Post retirement gave Barrett the time to pursue her love for travel. Through this gift, many deserving students will have the opportunity to study abroad.


over


Texas Southern University sends 100 students


a year abroad


to experience and international educational experience. The first study abroad group traveled to Tanzania in 2001 and was led by the Dean of the Graduate School and Director of International Programs Gregory Maddox, Ph.D.


tirelessly


“Since that time, we have worked to integrate


experiences, skills international


experiences into the curriculums in our courses and to give our students the opportunity to see the world, to gain


and


competencies that come from living in a truly multi-cultural and cross-cultural world.” said Maddox.


This year, the university “We are extraordinarily has


approved 10 faculty-led study abroad programs to Spain, France, Tanzania, Ghana, Korea and the Caribbean.


excited


to partner with the Houston Alumnae Chapter to make these trips possible for more of our students.” said Maddox.


The HBCU Advocate 13


Dr. William R. Harvey Museum of Art at Talladega College Photo by Michael Simmons


NC A&T junior, Kameron Langley (6' 1" point guard SW Guilford) broke Thomas Griffis (right) school assist record in the Aggies 83-62 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Langley passed the old record of 582 with two games remaining in the regular season and the 2020-2021 season ahead.


college and the impact that time has had on him and countless others. Many of the other speakers throughout the event echoed his remarks. The ceremony closed with a standing ovation from its attendees for Dr. Harvey's emotional remarks and reflections, as well as the wisdom imparted on the students now


attending the historic college. The opening of the Dr. William


R. Harvey Museum of Art marks a historic moment for Talladega College and preserving its legacy while promising even more greatness in the years to come. Tours at the museum will begin in March.


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