Mae Jemison is the first African American woman in space who is also a doctor, engineer and former NASA astronaut.
Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, she graduated from Stanford and Cornell universities.
Despite racial discrimination, she persisted, serving as a Peace Corps medical officer before joining NASA. Post-NASA, she founded The Jemison Group, taught at Dartmouth, created an international space camp and a nonprofit organization.
Currently, she leads the 100 Year Starship project. Her life is a testament to resilience, academic excellence, and significant contributions to community activities.
Related: Lorraine Hansberry Quotes and Eleanor Roosevelt Quotes.
Below I have outlined the most famous quotes by Mae Jemison.
Best Mae Jemison Quotes
1. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
2. “The future never just happened. It was created.” ~ (Mae Carol Jemison).
3. “Once I got into space, I was feeling very comfortable in the universe. I felt like I had a right to be anywhere in this universe, that I belonged here as much as any speck of stardust, any comet, any planet.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
4. “You have the right to be involved. You have something important to contribute, and you have to take the risk to contribute it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
5. “Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God’s gift to you, style is what you make of it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
Popular Mae Jemison Quotes
6. “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
7. “What we find is that if you have a goal that is very, very far out, and you approach it in little steps, you start to get there faster. Your mind opens up to the possibilities.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
8. “I always knew I’d go to space.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
9. “We look at science as something very elite, which only a few people can learn. That’s just not true. You just have to start early and give kids a foundation. Kids live up, or down, to expectations.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
Top Mae Jemison Quotes
10. “The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
11. “Science provides an understanding of a universal experience, and arts provides a universal understanding of a personal experience.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
12. “When God made the color purple, God was just showing off.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
13. “The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
14. “I wanted to be a professional dancer for a period of time, and I did a lot of dancing and choreography and got paid for it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
15. “Some of the most fun people I know are scientists.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
Famous Mae Jemison Quotes
16. “As an astronaut, you have a very defined set of tasks to do. Those tasks may require you to work 60, 70 or 80 hours a week.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
17. “My parents were comfortable with me exploring areas that they were not proficient in. Some parents just aren’t comfortable with that.” ~ (Mae Jemison).
18. The biggest challenge we face is shifting human consciousness, not saving the planet. The planet doesn’t need saving, we do. ~ (Mae Jemison).
19. I always knew I wanted to do something involved with space. I wanted to be an astronaut or a physicist. ~ (Mae Jemison).
20. The first thing about being a leader is you have to have a vision. ~ (Mae Jemison).
21. If we want scientists and engineers in the future, we need to start developing that passion in children today. ~ (Mae Jemison).
22. Education is not about sitting and listening, it’s about being able to run with the new ideas. ~ (Mae Jemison).
23. I think science and technology are the most powerful things in society. They are something that is molded with humanity. Humanity molds technology and science. They are interdependent and intertwined. ~ (Mae Jemison).
24. Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination. ~ (Mae Jemison).
25. The thing that struck me as I watched the election was that almost no one in Washington knew how to make a decision. ~ (Mae Jemison).
Short Biography of Mae Jemison
Mae Carol Jemison, an accomplished American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, made history as the first African-American woman in space during her 1992 mission on the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison was inspired by science and space from a young age, influenced by shows like Star Trek.
She pursued her passion through education, earning degrees from Stanford University and Cornell Medical School, and later working as a doctor in the Peace Corps.
| Full Name | Mae Carol Jemison |
| Born | 17 October 1956 (age 67 years), Decatur, Alabama, United States |
| Education | Stanford University (BA, BS), Cornell University (MD), Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (1981), MORE |
| Selection | NASA Group 12 (1987) |
| Space missions | STS-47 |
| Time in space | 7d 22h 30m |
| Retirement | March 1993 |
| Parents | Charlie Jemison, Dorothy Green |
| Siblings | Charles Jemison, Ada Jemison Bullock |
After joining NASA in 1987, Jemison flew into space in 1992, and post-NASA, she founded a technology company, started an educational foundation, and contributed to various projects and media, becoming a notable figure in science and education.
Quick Facts about Mae Jemison
- Mae Jemison overcame her fear of heights through astronaut training.
- She became the first Black woman to travel in space.
- Jemison followed in the footsteps of the first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
- At Stanford, she choreographed a musical called “Out of the Shadows.”
- Jemison has been passionate about dance since she was 8 years old.
- Her choreography was influenced by her identity as a Black woman and her passion for dance.
- She appeared on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1993.
- Mae Jemison was inspired by Lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek, played by Nichelle Nichols.
- Out of 2,000 applicants, Jemison was one of the 15 accepted into NASA in 1987.
- She flew on NASA’s 50th space shuttle mission, STS-47, in 1992.
- Jemison has made several TV appearances to promote science and technology.
- She appeared as herself in the TV special “Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond” in 1996.
- During the STS-47 mission, she focused on bone cell research.
- Mae Jemison founded The Jemison Group and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.
- The Dorothy Jemison Foundation focuses on science literacy for students aged 12 to 16.
- In 2001, Jemison published a memoir titled “Find Where the Wind Goes.”
- She co-authored the children’s book series “A True Book” with Dana Meachen Rau.
- Mae Jemison has her own LEGO figure in the “Women of NASA” set released in 2017.
- The “Women of NASA” LEGO set includes a booklet about the featured women.
- Jemison has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for her contributions to science.
- She was recognized with the Essence Science and Technology Award in 1988.
- Jemison received the Kilby Science Award in 1993.
- People magazine listed her as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1993.
- Jemison’s love for the arts didn’t wane even as she pursued a degree in chemical engineering.
- Her experiences with discrimination influenced her creative work and advocacy.
- Jemison’s appearance on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” marked her as the first real astronaut on the show.
- She applied to NASA for the first time in 1983 but was accepted after reapplying in 1987.
- Jemison’s media appearances include roles in films, documentaries, and TV shows.
- The STS-47 mission involved extensive research in microgravity and life sciences.
- Jemison’s work extends beyond her space career, impacting science education and representation.
Top Questions about Mae Jemison
A: Mae Jemison was born on October 17, 1956.
A: Mae Jemison is known for becoming the first African-American woman to travel into space in 1992.
A: Mae Jemison was raised in Chicago, Illinois.
A: Mae Jemison graduated from Stanford University and then earned her medical degree from Cornell University.
A: Mae Jemison served as a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985.
A: After leaving NASA, Jemison founded a technology research company and later a non-profit educational foundation.
A: “Star Trek,” especially the character Lieutenant Uhura played by Nichelle Nichols, influenced Mae Jemison’s interest in space.
A: Mae Jemison began studying ballet at the age of 8 or 9.
A: Mae Jemison served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-47 mission.
A: The Earth We Share, a science camp for students aged 12 to 16, is associated with the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.
A: Mae Jemison left NASA in 1993 to start a technology research company.
A: Mae Jemison took a poster from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a West African statuette with her on her space flight.
A: Before joining NASA, Mae Jemison worked as a general practitioner.
A: Mae Jemison was designated as the Science Mission Specialist, a role focused on scientific experiments.
A: Mae Jemison tested NASA’s Fluid Therapy System in space, which involved producing saline solution from water for injection.
A: Mae Jemison participated in one space mission.
A: Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go into space at 36 years old.
A: During her space mission, Mae Jemison conducted experiments in life sciences, material sciences, and was a co-investigator in a bone cell research experiment.
A: Mae Jemison famously said, “Never be limited by other people’s imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.”
A: Mae Jemison is renowned for being the first African American woman in space, her career as a medical doctor, her service as a Medical Officer in the Peace Corps, and her leadership of BioSentient Corp.
A: Currently, Mae Jemison is recognized for her work as a scientist, public speaker, and the numerous awards and honorary doctorates she has received for her contributions to science and space exploration.
