Hidden figures by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the story of a group of women who had an impact in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. This was a very critical time for the United States. With political tensions on the rise, both countries were fighting to be the first on the moon. Many believed that whoever went to the moon first was the victor in the fight between communism and democracy. Hidden Figures takes place in the early 1950’s. Although the Cold War is considered as a just war there are many instances where there is a paradox in what the American people were fighting against and the beliefs they held at home. The way African-Americans were being treated gave light to the beliefs Americans truly held.
John. Ester describes the situation in the 1950s by stating, “The country was divided. Racism and sexism were systematic. A privileged, very rich white dude from the northeast was occupying the White House. The Russians were America’s archenemy.” The United States was segregated and African-Americans along with other minorities were being treated less compared to their white neighbors. The United States believed that they were fighting for a good cause and defending the right of democracy when competing in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. There …show more content…
The mentality that whites were superior than African-Americans was still being practiced through the United States’ streets. Racism was still at an all-time high even during the intimidating time of the Cold War. The relationship that the United States government had with its minority groups was appalling. The government allowed and even enforced the inequality through its streets. The lack of effort on the government to desegregate the country allowed for the minorities to continue being taken advantage of and for the Soviet Union to use their negligence to their benefit. Margot Lee Shetterly describes the
John. Ester describes the situation in the 1950s by stating, “The country was divided. Racism and sexism were systematic. A privileged, very rich white dude from the northeast was occupying the White House. The Russians were America’s archenemy.” The United States was segregated and African-Americans along with other minorities were being treated less compared to their white neighbors. The United States believed that they were fighting for a good cause and defending the right of democracy when competing in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. There …show more content…
The mentality that whites were superior than African-Americans was still being practiced through the United States’ streets. Racism was still at an all-time high even during the intimidating time of the Cold War. The relationship that the United States government had with its minority groups was appalling. The government allowed and even enforced the inequality through its streets. The lack of effort on the government to desegregate the country allowed for the minorities to continue being taken advantage of and for the Soviet Union to use their negligence to their benefit. Margot Lee Shetterly describes the