*Originally released February 2017
In her debut as host of Black Market Reads, Lissa Jones sits down with Macalester College professor and author Duchess Harris to discuss her new book Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA. This might sound familiar to listeners – the stories told in Harris’s book, and stories like them, inspired the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures.
Listen:
Episode 18 – Duchess Harris, JD. PHD with Lissa Jones
Duchess Harris’s grandmother was one of a small group of black women who worked as human computers for NASA in the 1950s, and who have largely been left out space-race narratives–until now.
Duchess Harris’s grandmother was one of a small group of black women who worked as human computers for NASA in the 1950s, and who have largely been left out space-race narratives–until now. Inspired by her grandmother’s story, Harris has done extensive research on the circumstances that created an opening for educated black women to play an instrumental role in American space exploration. Lissa speaks with Harris about her research, personal connection to the topic, as well as the importance of exposing these hidden narratives to mainstream historical consciousness, and how American space exploration in the 1950s and 60s sheds light on the disparate opportunities for economic advancement open to black people at that time.
Duchess Harris, JD PHD is the Chair of American Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. She is the author of four books including, most recently, Black Lives Matter and Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA which inspired the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures.
Learn more about Duchess Harris’s work by visiting her website: www.duchessharris.com
Go Deeper: Additional Materials
Listen: Gil Scott-Heron – Whitey on the Moon (Full text below video)
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey’s on the moon)
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still.
(while Whitey’s on the moon)
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon?)
I was already payin’ ‘im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wasn’t enough
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an’ arm began to swell.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain’t no money here?
(Hm! Whitey’s on the moon)
Y’know I jus’ ’bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I’ll sen’ these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)
Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Black Women’s Work and Ida B. Wells (15:30)
Learn more about Ida B. Wells’ contributions from the National Women’s History Museum