After news that Katherine Johnson, one of the black mathematicians at NASA whose life was portrayed in the movie “Hidden Figures,” had died at the age of 101, social media users praised her work and legacy.
Former astronaut Scott Kelly called her a “true-life hero” and said her life would “inspire future generations to come.”
Twitter exploded with users praising her legacy:
https://twitter.com/Sifill_LDF/status/1231957140274843649
Johnson was part of a team of black mathematicians who worked at NASA, while it was still segregated, on the Mercury and Apollo missions.
In 2015, former President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.