Dr. Gladys West and the Map of the World

In this inspiring episode of Once Upon a Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh shares the remarkable story of Dr. Gladys Mae Brown West—a brilliant mathematician whose groundbreaking work helped shape the GPS technology we rely on every day.

From her humble beginnings on a farm in rural Virginia to becoming a pioneering computer programmer for the U.S. military, Dr. West’s journey is one of perseverance, precision, and quiet excellence. Listeners will discover how her mathematical models of the Earth’s shape became essential to satellite navigation, even as her contributions went largely unrecognized for decades.

This episode highlights not only Dr. West’s scientific achievements, but also her resilience in the face of limited opportunities, her lifelong commitment to education, and the legacy she leaves behind as one of the “hidden figures” of modern technology.

Tune in to learn how one woman’s dedication to “getting it right” helped map the world—and continues to guide us today.

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