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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ dies at 89
By LINDSEY BAHR LOS ANGELES©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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The Avenger
Lieutenant Uhura was a female role model for many young girls at a time when we had few. She was professional, smart, beautiful and able to think and operate as an important part of the team. It was also rather cool that a woman of color was portrayed in such a role, very uncommon for the era. It’s fascinating and heartwarming to read that she was such an inspiration for so many.
OnTheTrail
Watched a bunch of the original series when growing up on the 70's, Roddenberry created cast that seemed pretty every-day to this youngster (- Vulcan).
Took me until I was an adult and read that it was "trail blazing" to know that anything special was being depicted.
Love that she was an inspiration to Mae Jemison. RIP
YeahRight
She certainly Lived Long and Prospered. She will be sorely missed.
Readyfortakeoff
RIP
Peter14
She will be remembered and missed. Her light has moved on to another galaxy.
Safe journey Nichelle.
starpunk
George Takei, an ethnic Japanese-American potrayed Hideiki Sulu (not 'Zulu') - a Japanese, not Chinese. Nonetheless, he pioneered tremendously for his race in movies and TV as well. He would NOT take any role that degraded or poked fun or promoted stereotypes at his race/color. IOW, none of that buffoonish 'ching-chong'/'Long Duck Dong' crap that I remember seeing on so many TV shows as a kid.
And Lt. Uhura was the same pioneer. A black woman from Kenya, east Africa as a starship bridge officer was a huge step for race and gender in terms of respectability. She had class. And those movies based on the original series highlighted it even more.
It's good that she inspired Mae Jenson and others. She inspired females of all types really, not just black. This sister really did it for herself as Aretha Franklin and the Eurythmics once said. Nichelle was a groundbreaker.
And as an afterthought, the current US VP is not only the first female VP but she is part black herself.
Nichelle is now into the spiritual realm, beyond the stars. Her legacy is 4-ever. May she RIP.
starpunk
One rememberable Uhura moment I just recalled was on the movie 'Star Trek III' where this young naive cadet was bellyaching about being bored at his duty station, wanting 'excitement'. And the now Cmdr. Uhura says, 'Be careful about what you wish for because you just might get it'. And then the drama/adventure unfolds!
MilesTeg
First interracial kiss on US TV with William Shatner in the episode Plato's Stepchildren. Excellent episode as well!
lostrune2
RIP. Good thing MLK convinced her to stay on Star Trek
At one time, our univ student email server was named after Uhura - so all the undergrads had @uhura...... in their email addresses, lol
Kiss "force-controlled by aliens" - so there's an excuse "out" for everyone involved
Yet the execs still thought it'd be an issue in the US South. Good thing the actors intentionally sabotaged their plans
dagon
Pushes up nerd glasses...that would be Hikaru Sulu.
She was a light for the future.
Nemo
Count me in w/ OnTheTrail as being part of a generation that, if not perfect in race relations, was certainly more open-minded BECAUSE of Trek.
We lost 2 phenomenal Black Americans today. Sad to see them go, but glad to have had them as examples. That they both lived to a ripe old age is the icing on the cake.
Mocheake
Yes, RIP to Michelle Nichols and Bill Russell. They were two consummate pros and an inspiration to many.
JTC
Now I know, I'm getting Old.... RIP Uhura.
garypen
I met her at a ST convention back in the 70's. She was gorgeous in person, more so than on TV. I wish I still had the photo.