Annie Easley

Common card · No. 407781

Annie Jean Easley (April 23, 1933 – June 25, 2011) was an African American computer scientist who contributed significantly to the beginning iterations of NASA's rocket technologies. Easley was born in 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, and was raised by a single mother. Segregation disallowed Annie from many normal job opportunities that others of different color and gender might get, but her mother strived for her to have a good education nonetheless. She attended Holy Family High School for most of her schooling life, culminating in her graduating as valedictorian. From there, Easley enrolled at Xavier University in New Orleans to study pharmacy. Her interest in the subject waned from her initial excitement, and she returned to Birmingham briefly in 1945 to vote but was subjected to the poll tax. Her college experiences helped her to encourage other women to overcome some of the voting restrictions. Eventually, Easley would get married and move to Cleveland, Ohio with the intention of attending...

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