Hidden Figures: Mary Jackson Summary

Summary of
Hidden Figures
From Margot Lee Shetterly
Mary Jackson
By Summary Station

Every life on Earth is significant by itself. All the people leave some kind of marking upon civilization with their presence. But some of us, leave clear footprints on the world. Some people are so extraordinary and important that they must be remembered and acknowledged in the future. Scientists, inventors, innovators, doctors, philosophers, philanthropists – are the people that make our environment and our societies better just by being a part of it and contributing their ideas and effort. One of those people is for sure, Mary Jackson Wiliams.
Mary Jackson Williams was born on April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia as a child of Ella and Frank Winston. She graduated from the George P. Phenix Training School, that was an all-black school, with highest honors. The Phenix High school was formed by the Hampton Institute now known as Hampton University, and it was named after Dr. George Perly Phenix. He was the fourth principal in the Hampton Institute and furthermore he was the first president there. He was the one who influenced the Virginia State Board of Education to open this modern capacity for the African-American youth in the community. Unfortunately, Dr. Phenix died accidentally from drowning just a few months before the school that he lobbied for opened.