Meanwhile, whatever chance the white actresses get to star in movies, performers of color are rarely ever offered that opportunity to lead mainstream studio films, and this makes Hidden Figures stand out among everyone else. It has performed greatly among its targeted audience, and it also toppled Rogue One from the top of the box office. It won several Oscar nominations and brought in more than a hundred million dollars.
Hidden Figures is not only a box office breakthrough; it is also a story-telling breakthrough. If not erased, throughout history, the achievements of people and women of color have been mostly relegated to obscurity.
Hidden Figures is based on a non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, but the only reason this author was aware of them is that her father worked with a lot of them at NASA.
If not for the pure luck of growing alongside a lot of these women and Shetterly’s dedication to penning their stories, the women in Hidden Figures would have remained lost in history.
However, instead of that, we luckily received a best-selling film which recognizes the contribution of women of color to one of the most scientific and mathematical triumphs in modern history. It is an anomaly in modern culture, a sure sight to behold.
The films allow for reflection of human experiences, and it is time to include those of color.
Stay tuned for more updates on Hidden Figures!