Celestial Calculations: Reimagining Katherine Johnson through the Lens of Black Girlhood Studies

Department

College of Education

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Abstract

Children’s nonfiction about Black women in STEM has increased alongside educational policies emphasizing STEM literacy, diversity, and inclusion. Books such as Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, Counting on Katherine, and Mae Among the Stars introduce young readers to historically overlooked scientists, yet questions remain about how Black girlhood and scientific inquiry are represented within these narratives. This poster captures how these texts depict African American women in STEM and what these portrayals mean for the integration of informational texts into classroom curricula. Drawing on frameworks from Black Girlhood Studies and critical scholarship by J.S. Sanders, Mikkelsen, Priest, and others, the study used both narrative content and visual representation to examine how nonfiction STEM stories are constructed for young readers. The analysis found that while these books provide important visibility and positive representation, they often frame Black women’s achievements through simplified success narratives that limit opportunities for critical inquiry into the complexities of Black girlhood in STEM. Thus, we conclude that children’s nonfiction should move beyond heroic narratives and fixed facts to encourage inquiry and critical thinking, leading to a fuller representation of Black girlhood experiences within children’s literature.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS