Hidden Stories

Our American history is full of unique stories that are a part of our national heritage.  Many of these historical events, characters, places and times have been recorded in various forms, books and encyclopedias.  Quite a few of us have grown up taking history courses and have even gone on to major in history while in college.  However, in our quest to learn more about our American history we soon discover that what has been recorded is not often the full story, but only a brief observation as reflected by historians of that era. 

There is a lot to learn about our American history and to also realize that a lot of it has been omitted, altered or “hidden” due to racism, intolerance and indifference.  In fact, much of our American history has been told through the eyes of immigrants and not by those Native Americans who were here long before the Mayflower or explorers.  And it is important to note that after Native Americans; everybody else came to these shores as immigrants, slaves and indentured servants. 

Our American experience is a collection of stories about immigrants and includes so much more.  These stories include struggle, faith, endurance and courage.  They also include stories of change, discovery, inspiration and firsts.  And every day and as time passes by, someone finds a sliver of knowledge from the past that lifts the vail on the truth or how something was accomplished.  These kinds of discoveries help to change future perceptions; alter dreams and reveals that the contribution of a few is what made the difference when it counted the most.  

The recently release “Hidden Figures” movie is just one of those unique stories from history that most of us have never heard of or knew about until now.  This bit of history, about an all-black group of female mathematicians assigned to the West Area Computing unit at NASA in the late 1950s and how their work helped to put a man into space as well as several other space missions is truly remarkable.  The telling of their story of overcoming racial and gender barriers, shattering stereotypes and doing the math is truly inspirational.  Today, this is also the story of so many people who can relate to what these women of color when through just to do a job.  I wonder what other “stories” are just waiting to be brought to the light.