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MPR News Staff

Author talks 'Hidden Figures,' contributions of Black women to American innovation

Margot Lee Shetterly
Margot Lee Shetterly, the author of "Hidden Figures," speaks at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs on February 21, 2017.
Courtesy Humphrey School of Public Affairs

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Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race," was the Distinguished Carlson Lecturer at the University of Minnesota February 21, 2017.

Presented by the University of Minnesota Humphrey School, Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation, the presentation included a discussion with Shetterly and Michele Norris, executive director of The Race Card Project at the Aspen Institute.

The two discussed the many ways women and people of color have contributed to American innovation and explored the prejudice and bias they had to fight against along the way.

To hear that discussion, click the first audio player above.

Additional content

Recently, a joint production by the Washington Post and APM reports, titled "Historically Black," featured the story of Miriam Daniel Mann, who removed the signs designating areas for "colored computers" while working at Langley Airfield.

To hear that feature, click the second audio player above.

Shetterly's bestselling book is the inspiration for the 2016 film "Hidden Figures," which is nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year.

Check out the videos below for the theatrical trailer and some clips from the film.