NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson’s Great-Granddaughter Shares Inspiring Legacy

TODAY’s Sheinelle Jones sits down with Nakia Boykin, the great-granddaughter of legendary NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Boykin shares how Johnson inspired her academically and the lasting legacy she left behind for generations. “I don't know if I'm going to work at NASA or anything like she did, but math definitely will always be with me as I get older,” she says.

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#NakiaBoykin #NASA #KatherineJohnson

[jeffhamer]

Why didnt we learn about Katherine johnson in school? Crazy to me this women isnt talked about more!!!!

[EmyDays]

Her great grandmother opened the path her ❤

[kjstemacademy]

Ms. Johnson's legacy continues to inspire!

[greywolf]

i AM A WHITE 58 YEAR OLD MAN...WHY DIDN'T WE DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THIS AMAZING LADY IN SCHOOL HERE IN CANADA AS WELL?

[TyheedKing]

Grandparents truly make the world go round. They give us so much wisdom and love. I believe Ms.Johnson is smiling down on her great granddaughter.

[emilyappiah]

It's in her DNA. Go Girl 👧 👏 💪. It's in Your GENES

[therealzilch]

With all the bad news in the world, a story like this warms the heart. Good on you, Nakia Boykin, and a debt of gratitude to your greatgrandmother Katherine Johnson.

[Wareaglegirl]

I wish I would have learned about all 3 of these amazing women

[briantneary]

Your grandmother was an American hero💚

[LillianSteele-uv]

My dad loved math and so did one of his sisters. It skipped me and bounced into my big brother who retired last year as a programmer with KonTour.

[bmuhamad]

Amazing story & amazing women. Just do our best, period.

[krussell]

The story of Hidden Figures to me, is one of the biggest well kept secrets of Black history. As a black woman born in the late 50's, I grew up with the NASA, John Glenn and moon landing events, but I'd never heard of these courageous women until seeing the film. So glad they've gotten their well deserved spot in history.

[daniellesjerven]

I love 💕 Hidden Figures. It’s an amazing movie 🍿

[RaymondHng]

I learned algebra in 9th grade. She's starting early.

[oriraykai]

I started Algebra in 7th grade. Don't know what you school YOU went to interviewer.

[mariazermeno]

Porque lo están pasando tan rápido!acaso se que man los frijoles en la lumbre

[voraciousreader]

Look at all those men sitting there trying to “celebrate” women. I’ll wait til there’s an equal number before watching the today show again. Not only that, but psychologists have known for a very long time that it’s Nature _AND_ Nurture which makes any kind of person. There is never an instance where it’s purely one or the other.

[MrLjpadk]

I'll bet, I'll almost guarantee it, that Ms. Johnson in her illustrious career, did not constantly talk about her "blackness", her racial identity.
She forged ahead knowing she was good at her work, took pride in her accomplishments,
and did not lodge constant complaints about black this, and black that.
THIS is the kind if person more blacks and woke whites should emulate, not the identity race hucksters of today.

[mooshuguy]

Too bad this great story had to be told with a race narrative