I would not normally choose to follow a post about people associated with Doctor Who passing away with a post about Star Trek people who have also sadly died but I think I could not let the passing of Nichelle Nichols go without some comment.
Nichelle was most famous for her role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek the Original Series and its film sequels.
As a child watching Star Trek re-runs, Uhura was probably the first and best example of a black woman just doing her job in the same room with a bunch of white dudes. OK, the show was made in the 1960's, her job was mostly "Hailing frequencies open, sir" and she did that job in a micro-mini dress and Go-Go boots. But hell, you take your victories where you can find them.
Which was the advice Martin Luther King Jr gave Nichelle Nichols when she expressed her desire to leave Star Trek. King noted that her presence in of itself on the bridge of the Enterprise was an important message for women and people of color.
It was a lesson reiterated by Whoopi Goldberg who appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Guinan. Whoopi described the importance of seeing a woman like Uhura on the Enterprise as a symbol of hope for women of color.
Nichelle Nichols turned her role on Star Trek into an ambassador for America's space program, promoting NASA's programs to recruit more women and ethnic minorities as astronauts.
A lot has been written over the ground breaking interracial kiss between Uhura and Capt. Kirk on Star Trek. Which is a shame because the episode it occurred "Plat's Stepchildren" is so terribly and indisputably awful.
Or to quote Keith R.A. DeCandido (and the ALL CAPS are his) "HOLY CRAP, WHY DOES ANYONE THINK “SPOCK’S BRAIN” IS THE WORST EPISODE WHEN THIS EMBARRASSMENT EXISTS??????"
These weird mind controlling aliens make Uhura and Kirk kiss so it's really.... not good.
Random fun fact: Asteroid 68410 Nichols is named in honor of Nichelle Nichols.
It is a credit to her character and her grace that Nichelle Nichols could take the small role of Nyota Uhura and turn it into something bigger than what the writers and producers gave her and into a larger message of hope and inspiration to so many people over the years.
God bless and rest in peace. Your spirit now soars among the stars.
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