Untold Stories:
Forgotten Voices
in History
Hufflepuff
Forgotten Voices
in History
Hufflepuff
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.”
Story by Azamat Aguzarov
Once there was a girl who loved math. Every time when she was in math class she was the best and always had a good grade. Her name was Katherine Johnson. Katherine was born in 1918. She was so good at math, that she was ahead several grades in school.
When she was grown and married, a friend told her about a job helping astronauts. Her job was to do the calculations to make sure that astronauts could safely get to the moon.
Unfortunately, she faced some problems. She had to do her work in the basement away from the other engineers because she was a woman and because she was black, but she didn’t let this stop her.
Katherine Johnson made a huge impact on space exploration and the world.
Katherine Johnson reminds everyone that women can do the math like a man and can be an important part of any team.
Katherine Johnson
American Mathematician
American Mathematician
Once there was a girl who loved math. Every time when she was in math class she was the best and always had a good grade. Her name was Katherine Johnson. Katherine was born in 1918. She was so good at math, that she was ahead several grades in school.
When she was grown and married, a friend told her about a job helping astronauts. Her job was to do the calculations to make sure that astronauts could safely get to the moon.
Unfortunately, she faced some problems. She had to do her work in the basement away from the other engineers because she was a woman and because she was black, but she didn’t let this stop her.
Katherine Johnson made a huge impact on space exploration and the world.
Katherine Johnson reminds everyone that women can do the math like a man and can be an important part of any team.
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Creativity helps us realize that we don't have to understand everything
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Story by: Danielle SamaLoading...
Faith RinggoldArtist
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Faith Ringgold created quilts to tell stories. Faith was born on October 8, 1930, in Harlem, New York City. When Faith was little she had really bad asthma. Therefore, she spent a lot of time in the house with her mother who was a fashion designer. Her mom taught her to sew and work with her hands.
Faith loved making arts, especially sculptures. But the dust affected her asthma so she turned to quilts. Faith made quilts to tell stories.
She has written Children’s books that feature her quilts. One is called Tar Beach. She was inspired by the writings of James Baldwin and Amiri Baraka, African art, Impressionism, and Cubism to create the works she made in the 1960s. Many of her quilts show parts of her ancestry.
Faith Ringgold will be remembered for quilt making and passion for art.
"Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society."
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor
Story by Emily Cristales
Sonia Sotomayor’s life wasn't always easy and nothing was ever just handed to her. Everything she did and earned was because of hard work.
She was born on June 25, 1954, in the South Bronx area of New York City. While growing up she had to mature quicker than others. At only the age of 9, Sonia had to learn to be independent after her father’s sudden death. Her mother wasn't always around growing up, she had to work 2 jobs to be able to support Sonia and her younger brother, Juan. Sonia also struggled with not having a good relationship with her mom. Not only did she struggle with coping with her dad’s death, but she was also diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes, a condition that requires you to test your blood every day and give yourself a shot of insulin every day.
Sonia had wished to be a lawyer but her passion for wanting to be a judge grew when she watched a show called Perry Mason. She states that when she saw how the judge was the most important person in a room court, she wished to also be that.
Before Sonia was born, her parents traveled from Puerto Rico to search for a better future in the United States. Throughout her life, her parents stressed to her the importance of doing well in school, the stress was especially bigger when her father passed away. With all her hard work Sonia was able to earn two scholarships one to Princeton and another to Yale Law School. While her time at Princeton and Yale she always felt scared to be judged because she came from South Bronx and felt different from other students. Sonia later became a district lawyer after graduating from Yale Law School.
In 2009 President Obama nominated her to be the first Latina Justice on the supreme court changing Sonia Maria Sotomayor's life. It made her dreams come true of becoming a judge.
Sonia has always been seen as independent and strong. Before her success, she was elected by George Bush and Bill Clinton to be part of the US Court. Sonia shows how no matter what your race is or the obstacles that life brings you if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.
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She was born on June 25, 1954, in the South Bronx area of New York City. While growing up she had to mature quicker than others. At only the age of 9, Sonia had to learn to be independent after her father’s sudden death. Her mother wasn't always around growing up, she had to work 2 jobs to be able to support Sonia and her younger brother, Juan. Sonia also struggled with not having a good relationship with her mom. Not only did she struggle with coping with her dad’s death, but she was also diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes, a condition that requires you to test your blood every day and give yourself a shot of insulin every day.
Sonia had wished to be a lawyer but her passion for wanting to be a judge grew when she watched a show called Perry Mason. She states that when she saw how the judge was the most important person in a room court, she wished to also be that.
Before Sonia was born, her parents traveled from Puerto Rico to search for a better future in the United States. Throughout her life, her parents stressed to her the importance of doing well in school, the stress was especially bigger when her father passed away. With all her hard work Sonia was able to earn two scholarships one to Princeton and another to Yale Law School. While her time at Princeton and Yale she always felt scared to be judged because she came from South Bronx and felt different from other students. Sonia later became a district lawyer after graduating from Yale Law School.
In 2009 President Obama nominated her to be the first Latina Justice on the supreme court changing Sonia Maria Sotomayor's life. It made her dreams come true of becoming a judge.
Sonia has always been seen as independent and strong. Before her success, she was elected by George Bush and Bill Clinton to be part of the US Court. Sonia shows how no matter what your race is or the obstacles that life brings you if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.
.
Sonia Maria Sotomayor
First Latina Supreme court Justice
First Latina Supreme court Justice
Sonia Sotomayor’s life wasn't always easy and nothing was ever just handed to her. Everything she did and earned was because of hard work.
She was born on June 25, 1954, in the South Bronx area of New York City. While growing up she had to mature quicker than others. At only the age of 9, Sonia had to learn to be independent after her father’s sudden death. Her mother wasn't always around growing up, she had to work 2 jobs to be able to support Sonia and her younger brother, Juan. Sonia also struggled with not having a good relationship with her mom. Not only did she struggle with coping with her dad’s death, but she was also diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes, a condition that requires you to test your blood every day and give yourself a shot of insulin every day.
Sonia had wished to be a lawyer but her passion for wanting to be a judge grew when she watched a show called Perry Mason. She states that when she saw how the judge was the most important person in a room court, she wished to also be that.
Before Sonia was born, her parents traveled from Puerto Rico to search for a better future in the United States. Throughout her life, her parents stressed to her the importance of doing well in school, the stress was especially bigger when her father passed away. With all her hard work Sonia was able to earn two scholarships one to Princeton and another to Yale Law School. While her time at Princeton and Yale she always felt scared to be judged because she came from South Bronx and felt different from other students. Sonia later became a district lawyer after graduating from Yale Law School.
In 2009 President Obama nominated her to be the first Latina Justice on the supreme court changing Sonia Maria Sotomayor's life. It made her dreams come true of becoming a judge.
Sonia has always been seen as independent and strong. Before her success, she was elected by George Bush and Bill Clinton to be part of the US Court. Sonia shows how no matter what your race is or the obstacles that life brings you if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.
.
She was born on June 25, 1954, in the South Bronx area of New York City. While growing up she had to mature quicker than others. At only the age of 9, Sonia had to learn to be independent after her father’s sudden death. Her mother wasn't always around growing up, she had to work 2 jobs to be able to support Sonia and her younger brother, Juan. Sonia also struggled with not having a good relationship with her mom. Not only did she struggle with coping with her dad’s death, but she was also diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes, a condition that requires you to test your blood every day and give yourself a shot of insulin every day.
Sonia had wished to be a lawyer but her passion for wanting to be a judge grew when she watched a show called Perry Mason. She states that when she saw how the judge was the most important person in a room court, she wished to also be that.
Before Sonia was born, her parents traveled from Puerto Rico to search for a better future in the United States. Throughout her life, her parents stressed to her the importance of doing well in school, the stress was especially bigger when her father passed away. With all her hard work Sonia was able to earn two scholarships one to Princeton and another to Yale Law School. While her time at Princeton and Yale she always felt scared to be judged because she came from South Bronx and felt different from other students. Sonia later became a district lawyer after graduating from Yale Law School.
In 2009 President Obama nominated her to be the first Latina Justice on the supreme court changing Sonia Maria Sotomayor's life. It made her dreams come true of becoming a judge.
Sonia has always been seen as independent and strong. Before her success, she was elected by George Bush and Bill Clinton to be part of the US Court. Sonia shows how no matter what your race is or the obstacles that life brings you if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.
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"It's too soon to know."
Story by Greg Doane
Shirley Reingold
Wrote the First Rock Song
Wrote the First Rock Song
Shirley Reingold always loved music. When she was a teenager, she sold shoes in Baltimore, Maryland, and at the same time listened to music.
When she was older, she traveled with her mother to New York, where a man asked her to marry him. When she got back to the place where she was staying, she talked with her mother, saying “It’s too soon to know.”
She ended up writing her thoughts down; she eventually made those thoughts into a song, “It’s Too Soon to Know,” and a group of singers called the Orioles performed it. Many people now think of that song as the first rock-and-roll song ever!
She kept helping the Orioles, and wrote more songs for them. Unfortunately, she couldn’t formally read or write music, so she had to find people who could write music when she had an idea for a song in her head; if she wasn’t fast enough, she would forget the song before she found someone!
One time, when she was travelling to a concert with the Orioles, they got into a car crash; Shirley was okay, but two of the band members died.
She and the Orioles were together for a long time, but eventually Shirley got tired of it and retired. In the end, Shirley Reingold, aka Deborah Chessler, ended up inducting the Orioles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When she was older, she traveled with her mother to New York, where a man asked her to marry him. When she got back to the place where she was staying, she talked with her mother, saying “It’s too soon to know.”
She ended up writing her thoughts down; she eventually made those thoughts into a song, “It’s Too Soon to Know,” and a group of singers called the Orioles performed it. Many people now think of that song as the first rock-and-roll song ever!
She kept helping the Orioles, and wrote more songs for them. Unfortunately, she couldn’t formally read or write music, so she had to find people who could write music when she had an idea for a song in her head; if she wasn’t fast enough, she would forget the song before she found someone!
One time, when she was travelling to a concert with the Orioles, they got into a car crash; Shirley was okay, but two of the band members died.
She and the Orioles were together for a long time, but eventually Shirley got tired of it and retired. In the end, Shirley Reingold, aka Deborah Chessler, ended up inducting the Orioles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Keegan May