Mary Jackson
An American mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA, who became NASA's first black female engineer.
Most quoted
"We have to do something like this to get them interested in science. Sometimes they are not aware of the number of black scientists, and don't even know of the career opportunities until it is too late."
— from On community outreach, 1970
"I plan to be an engineer at NASA, but I have to take the graduate-level courses in math and physics to qualify, and they're only offered at a segregated high school."
— from Conversation with supervisor, 1958
"I changed my mind about what I wanted to be, and I changed my mind about what I wanted to do, and I changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up."
— from Interview
All quotes by Mary Jackson (397)
My calculator might be mechanical, but my brain is anything but.
They say the sky's the limit. I say, let's build a rocket to find out.
Being a woman in engineering is like being a unicorn. Everyone's heard of it, but few have actually seen one in action.
I don't just crunch numbers; I make them dance.
They wanted a 'computer.' I gave them a mind.
The only thing more powerful than a slide rule is a woman who knows how to use it.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And then try a different equation.
My patience is finite, but my determination is not.
Some days I feel like I'm doing calculus with one hand tied behind my back, and the other hand is holding a baby.
They underestimated me. That was their first mistake.
I'm not just breaking barriers; I'm building bridges.
The only thing more complex than aerospace engineering is navigating office politics.
Give me a challenge, and I'll give you a triumph.
My brain is a finely tuned instrument. Don't play it out of key.
They say knowledge is power. I say applied knowledge is rocket fuel.
I've got more equations in my head than they have excuses.
Don't tell me it can't be done. Tell me how many attempts it took you.
My work speaks for itself. Loudly.
It's funny how some people think a skirt makes you less capable of understanding aerodynamics.
I'm not just a number; I'm the one who makes the numbers work.
Contemporaries of Mary Jackson
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Mary Jackson (1921–2005).