I feel like, in a lot of ways, 'Hidden Figures' is the book that I wrote and have been waiting to read since I learned to read.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a deep connection to a transformative book that resonates with the author's experiences and learning journey.
'Hidden Figures' represents a significant story that was long overlooked, and for the author, it embodies a personal and educational milestone. Margot Lee Shetterly reflects on how the narrative of the book fulfills a gap in knowledge and representation that she has always sought throughout her reading life.
In practice
In a book club discussion, to emphasize the importance of representation in literature.
A lot of times, we talk about black people as if being black is all they are. They get up, go to work... and are as complex and interesting and variable as any other group of people. We don't often capture that or write about it.
Growing up in Hampton, the face of science was brown like mine.
For too long, history has imposed a binary condition on its black citizens: either nameless or renowned, menial or exceptional, passive recipients of the forces of history or superheroes who acquire mythic status not just because of their deeds but because of their scarcity.
Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.
We are in effect enculturating kids from the very beginning to see women and girls as not taking up half of the space.
I am confident in saying that Oberlin did more for me than vice versa. I took a fantastic class in religion, which led me to archaeology, which got me to the Middle East, which led me to international relations, which launched me on my career.
It is my firm belief that all successful languages are grown and not merely designed from first principles
Reading is at the center of our lives. The library is our brain. Without the library, you have no civilization.
I consider the world, this Earth, to be like a school, and our life the classrooms.
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