'Hidden Figures' Success Astounds Even Black History Experts

This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, my mom, sister and I left a local movie theater in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, in disbelief in what we had just seen onscreen. The movie was "Hidden Figures," and each of us couldn't believe that we had never before been exposed to this true story about African-American female mathematicians and engineers whose brilliant work helped NASA launch the legendary 1962 space flight of John Glenn, a fellow Ohioan who recently passed away. 

My sister is herself a black female engineer, but even she had never heard of this amazing and inspiring story until the movie's release. 

Could anyone have predicted that a movie about African-American women excelling in a field in which they aren't traditionally associated would rocket (pun intended) to number one at the box office, beating out even the latest installment in the behemoth "Star Wars" franchise?

"Hidden Figures" has not only received one of the coveted Academy Award Best Picture nominations, the movie has raked in more than $100 million at the box office ‒ a bonafide blockbuster. Since the movie was produced for just $25 million (modest by Hollywood standards), it has turned a quadruple profit. 

The success of "Hidden Figures" is especially phenomenal, considering it disproves Hollywood's widespread belief that in this digital age of a million entertainment choices, moviegoers won't flock to character-driven movies with women as the lead characters ‒ especially ones that don't have eye-popping action and special effects.

The story of the real-life women behind "Hidden Figures" has surprised even those who are well-versed in black history. When appearing on "The View" on Martin Luther King Day, Van Jones, a former staffer in the Obama White House and an outspoken activist, 'fessed up that he was unaware that black women were instrumental in the history of space exploration.

"I'm an African-American civil rights dude. It's my job!" Jones declared, referring to his responsibility of being informed about black Americans' achievements.

Tavis Smiley expressed similar amazement when "Hidden Figures" star Octavia Spencer recently appeared on his PBS talk show to promote the movie.

"How did I miss this [story]?" asked an incredulous Smiley, author of such best-selling books as "The Covenant with Black America" and "How to Make Black America Better."

"It's a strange time and people have to chart their course," said Spencer,who has been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. "You have to determine how you're going to be part of the solution, and for me it's about putting positive images out there."

Following the lead of "Hidden Figures," I hope to also put out positive images of African-American women with the upcoming release of a documentary I wrote and directed, "Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women In the Ring." 

"Lady Wrestler" chronicles the story of sisters Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson and Marva Scott ‒ African-American women who garnered international success with their athletic grace decades before another African-American "sister act" ‒ Venus and Serena Williams ‒ captured the world's attention. 

"Lady Wrestler" features in-depth interviews with Johnson and other wrestlers who rose to fame in the 1950s and '60s, such as Ramona Isbell and Ethel Brown. The documentary also features commentary from the wrestlers' children on what it was like to grow up with a mom who could take down most men in a matter of seconds.

Like "Hidden Figures," "Lady Wrestler" brings to light yet another "hidden" piece of history about the contributions of African-American women in an area where you don't often see either black people or women ‒ especially back in the day. 

I'll be posting periodic updates about "Lady Wrestler" as the film's release approaches. In the meantime, you can find out more at Ladywrestlermovie.com.