Behind the Space Race Genius: the Tragic Loss and Second Love That Powered Katherine Johnson's Journey

An insightful review of Behind the Space Race Genius: the Tragic Loss and Second Love That Powered Katherine Johnson's Journey—read on to discover what experts are saying.

Q1: How many times was Katherine Johnson married?

A1: Katherine Johnson was married twice. Her first marriage was to James Francis Goble from 1939 until his death from a brain tumor in December 1956. Her second marriage was to military veteran James A. Johnson from August 1959 until his death in March 2019.

Q2: Did Katherine Johnson have children with her second husband?

A2: No. Katherine had three daughters, Constance, Joylette, and Katherine, exclusively with her first husband, James Francis Goble. Her second husband, James A. Johnson, helped raise and support the three girls as his stepdaughters.

Q3: How accurate was the portrayal of her marriage in the movie Hidden Figures?

A3: The film condensed the courtship timeline between Katherine and Jim Johnson for theatrical effect. While the film depicted Jim initially expressing skepticism about women working in high-level mathematics, Katherine noted in interviews that Jim was always supportive of her intellect and professional responsibilities.