RIP Nichelle Nichols, aka Lt. Uhura from Star Trek

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the passing of actress Nichelle Nichols, known for her role as Lt. Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series." It touches on her contributions to television, racial representation, and her involvement with NASA, as well as personal memories shared by participants.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes Nichols' role as a groundbreaking portrayal of a Black woman on television, highlighting her impact on racial representation.
  • Another participant recalls the significance of the interracial kiss between her character and Captain Kirk, citing it as a pivotal moment in TV history.
  • A participant shares a personal anecdote about meeting Nichols at a fan convention, illustrating her approachable nature and connection with fans.
  • There is a mention of Nichols' contributions to NASA and her efforts to promote diversity within the agency.
  • One participant briefly mentions the passing of Bill Russell, suggesting a broader context of loss in influential figures.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on Nichols' significance in television and her contributions to diversity, but there is no formal debate or disagreement present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal memories and historical context but does not delve into detailed analysis or critique of Nichols' career or impact.

Who May Find This Useful

Fans of "Star Trek," those interested in television history, and individuals studying racial representation in media may find this discussion relevant.

BillTre
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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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I will always remember the following dialogue I once had on the internet:

Me: "When I was a kid I had a crush on her."
Friend: "When we were young we all had a crush on her."
 
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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.
 
I also note the passing today of Bill Russell. People as rational as he are becoming terribly hard to find.
 
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