A Story I Like

I want to recount a story I love. It's not my story, but rather that of Nichelle Nichols, the woman who played Lieutenant Uhura on the original run of Star Trek in the 60's. I am going retell this story, but honestly, it's far better to hear direct from Nichelle. I strongly suggest listening to the full story here:

 Star Talk Radio - A Conversation With Nichelle Nichols 


That being said, If you don't have the time, I'll recount her story here to the best of my ability:

Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Nyota Uhura

Nichelle Nichols grew up with dreams of Broadway. She acted, she sang with an incredible vocal range, from the highest highs to the "Old Man River" baritones. She danced as well, with ballet as her strong suit: an acting triple threat. In pursuit of her dreams of Broadway, she took several acting jobs. One of these was portraying Lieutenant Uhura on a show called Star Trek, a job she took in 1966. She happily acted through the first season, getting a few chances to sing and dance, but to Nichelle, this gig was just the next rung in the ladder, not the plateau.

To those unfamiliar with the show, Uhura was the communications officer on the Starship Enterprise - the flagship of the fleet - with a mission to explore the cosmos some hundreds of years in future. Uhura was a representative of the "United States of Africa," and she deserved the high-ranking. While on the bridge, she was laser-focused and effective; off the main bridge she had softer moments, often singing with Spock accompanying her on the lyre. She later shared the first interracial kiss shown on television with Captain Kirk.

Television's first interracial kiss

After the first season wrapped up filming she approached Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry on a Friday. She told him that she has been happy to for the work, that she's enjoyed her friendships on the show, but it was time for her to move on. Gene, despite his sense of humor, was not amused. He told her flatly that she couldn't leave. In his view, she was integral to the show not only as a character on the bridge, but as part of the overall social statement that the show made about a more enlightened future in the midst of civil rights battles. He gave her the weekend to think over her decision as he took the resignation letter she handed to him. He agreed that if, iby Monday, she still wanted to resign, he would let her go with his blessing.

As it happens, that Saturday night, Nichelle was a celebrity guest at an NAACP fundraiser in Beverly Hills. In the midst of the greetings she received upon arriving, a promoter approached Nichelle and said, "there is someone who wants to meet you, he says he's your greatest fan." The promoter leaves to fetch the fan, and soon, Nichelle turns to see Martin Luther King Jr. smiling and walking toward her. She thought to herself "That trekkie fan is going to have to wait if I have a chance to talk to King." When Dr. King had waded through the crowd to Nichelle, he said to her "Ms. Nichols, I am indeed you greatest fan."

When she regained her voice the first thing she told King was that she was honored. He began to speak about her role on the show, and the influence that Star Trek has on the country and the civil right movement. Fort the first time she can remember, Nichelle didn't have any words. King goes on to talk about Roddenberrry as "a man who has seen the future, because we (the black community) are there."

(This picture is here to break
up a big chunk of text)

In the 1960's, this was unique to Star Trek. To portray a black person in such a position of command and control was, at the time, quite progressive. Star Trek was important not only to the civil rights movement, but to King personally. Dr. King didn't let his kids watch a whole lot of television. Nearly none, as it turns out, but he did let his kids watch Star Trek. One night, not long into the first season, his daughter rushed into the kitchen where he and his wife were talking. Not able to contain herself, his daughter exclaimed "Daddy, there's a colored woman on TV, and she ain't no one's maid!" Nichelle quickly became her hero.

During the course of their conversation, Nichelle eventually had to tell Dr. King that she planned on leaving the show; King refused to accept it. He urged her to remain on with Star Trek, telling her that "[her role as Lt. Uhura] was not a black role, it was not a female role, but an equal role." Letting his nerd flag fly, King told her her role as the Chief Communications Officer meant she was fourth in command of the Enterprise; a fact of which she was hitherto unaware.

The rest of Nichelle's weekend passed with many different emotions, ranging from fury to tears to numbness. On Monday, she approached Gene, and told him that she would stay if he'd still have her on the show. She recounted her story, and after a silence, he said "God bless Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., someone sees what I'm trying to do here." Roddenberry then opened his desk drawer and handed her resignation letter back to her, torn to shreds. He was never going to accept it.

Uhura always wore a red uniform
and didn't die once. Way to go.

Cheers,

    - Scott




Extra: A story from Gene Roddenberry's life, told by The Oatmeal

Click on that link up there, ^ seriously. It's great.




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