RIP Nichelle Nichols, aka Lt. Uhura from Star Trek

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Actress Nichelle Nichols, renowned for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series," passed away at 89 from natural causes. Nichols was pivotal in breaking racial barriers on television, with Martin Luther King Jr. recognizing her role as the first non-stereotypical portrayal of a Black woman on TV. She was also part of a landmark moment in television history, participating in one of the first interracial kisses alongside William Shatner's character, James T. Kirk. After "Star Trek," Nichols focused on promoting diversity within NASA, contributing to the recruitment of astronauts such as Sally Ride and Guion Bluford. Her legacy extends beyond acting, influencing both television and the space program.
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Actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of Lt. Nyota Uhura in “Star Trek: The Original Series,” has died at age 89, of natural causes.

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Besides being on the first Star Trek show, she was also central to some important racial firsts on US TV:
  • The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called it “the first non-stereotypical role portrayed by a Black woman in television history.”
  • Nichols is widely known for participating in one of the first interracial kisses on US television when her character kissed James T. Kirk, portrayed by White Canadian actor William Shatner.
After “Trek’s” three-season run, Nichols dedicated herself to the space program. She helped NASA in making the agency more diverse, helping to recruit astronauts Sally Ride, Judith Resnik and Guion Bluford, among others.
 
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Nichelle Nichols was one of the participants at the annual Northern FanCon event in my small city in British Columbia Canada in May 2018. My daughter attended, and she spoke briefly with Nichols.

Daugher: "Hi."
Nichols: "Hello. How are you?"
Daughter: "Good. I am a very big fan of the original Star Trek."
Nichols: "That's nice. Thank you for coming."

Nichols also participated in a question-answer session with our local paper.
 
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