A life hidden for too long

Re “Mathematician for NASA broke barriers,” obituary, Feb. 25

The tragedy of the late NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson’s life is that it took a movie, “Hidden Figures,” to bring her remarkable story to light, considering that famed astronauts John Glenn and Buzz Aldrin along with the rest of the space program knew of her invaluable contribution for decades.

But such is the history of many African Americans’ extraordinary accomplishments in this country — hidden.

Los Angeles

I’m so proud of this remarkable woman. She was not alone in asserting her right to be included and accepted as an important part of our space program, and I’m glad she and others were brought to our attention in the movie “Hidden Figures.”

Thankfully, Johnson lived to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to know she made a difference that echoed beyond herself. So many pioneering women and people of color go unrecognized, their accomplishments often stolen by white men.

Hopefully, times are changing. The #MeToo movement has encouraged women to speak out. Gender is now at the forefront. We must revisit our history and discover the talent and intelligence of all people who achieved remarkable things in a hostile environment.

Thank you, Mrs. Johnson, for fighting for your rights and the rights of people who were not white and male.

Suzanne Brugman

La Habra Heights

I read the obituary of Johnson with great interest and noted that she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2015.

Compare this to President Trump giving the same award to that great intellectual and patriot, Rush Limbaugh.

Michael D. Mauer

Los Angeles