RIP Nichelle Nichols, aka Lt. Uhura from Star Trek

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SUMMARY

Nichelle Nichols, renowned for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura in “Star Trek: The Original Series,” passed away at the age of 89 due to natural causes. Her portrayal was pivotal in breaking racial barriers on television, with Martin Luther King Jr. recognizing it as the first non-stereotypical role for a Black woman. Nichols also made history with one of the first interracial kisses on US television alongside William Shatner's character, James T. Kirk. After her acting career, she contributed significantly to NASA's diversity efforts, aiding in the recruitment of astronauts like Sally Ride and Guion Bluford.

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  • Awareness of racial representation in media
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This discussion is beneficial for cultural historians, media studies scholars, and fans of “Star Trek” interested in the intersection of entertainment and social change.

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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