Her Side of History – Tracy Cooper-Posey

Zenobia: The Queen Who Took On Rome and Almost Won

History remembers Cleopatra. It should remember Zenobia. While Rome staggered through one of the most chaotic periods in its history, the Queen of Palmyra seized the opportunity to build an empire of her own. Through military brilliance, political savvy, and a masterful understanding of reputation, she conquered vast territories and came astonishingly close to permanently splitting the Roman Empire. For a brief moment, the outcome of history was genuinely uncertain.

Katherine Johnson: The Math Genius Hidden Figures Couldn’t Fully Contain

4 Comments / Historical Stuff / May 17, 2026 / American history, Apollo program, Black history, civil rights, female scientists, Her Side of History, Hidden Figures, hidden figures movie, historical women, inspirational women, John Glenn, Katherine Johnson, Mathematics, NASA, NASA history, science history, Space Race, women in history, women in STEM, women mathematicians / 5 minutes of reading

Before NASA trusted electronic computers, they trusted Katherine Johnson. Hidden Figures introduced millions to the brilliant mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts into orbit and eventually to the moon. But the real story is even more astonishing than the movie. From quietly defying segregation to becoming the woman John Glenn personally trusted with his life, Katherine Johnson’s career reveals how history often overlooks the people doing its most essential work.

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