Tribute to Nichelle Nichols.
Every decade or so, someone will be proclaimed as ‘Finally a strong female character’ or ‘This role will change how people of color will be portrayed’, and despite the merits of the people being associated with these roles rarely will any of them have the impact of the original strong female role of Uhura played by Nichelle Nichols, a black woman on prime time television in a regular role, something almost unseen in 1960’s television.
Grace Dell Nichols was born December 28th 1932, after several years of trying to find her place in both acting and singing, she found it by combing to two in the musical Kicks and Co. in 1961, by the middle of the decade she was touring as a singer do small roles on television, one of which in 1964 was a small part in a show ‘The Lieutenant’ which was produced by Gene Roddenberry. That crossing of paths proved fortuitous when later in the decade Roddenberry went on to create Star Trek.
His first pilot was unsuccessful, rejected in part because of the portrayal of woman in positions of power and decision making, so in the second pilot Roddenberry removed those roles and replaced them with men, however he made sure that the bridge was not devoid of woman and created the role of Uhura which was not just given to a white woman but to Nichelle Nichols a black woman, breaking down so many barriers in one move.
Uhura was never a glorified phone operator with sci-fi trimmings, she was part of the decision-making team, she had her own expertise that was essential to the running of the ship. And Nichelle Nichols embodied that role making her an essential element of the show.
When she planned to leave at the end of the first season to pursue a career on Broadway Martin Luther King encouraged her to stay, she later recalled him saying to her;
“Do you not understand what God has given you? … You have the first important non-traditional role, non-stereotypical role. … You cannot abdicate your position. You are changing the minds of people across the world, because for the first time, through you, we see ourselves and what can be.”
Those words cannot be underestimated, and fortunately for us she remained with the show. We can talk about the kiss, we can talk abut the strength of her character, the presence that Nichols brought to the role, but that presence on our television screen and later on our movie screens, changed perceptions, making the impossible possible and giving hope and dreams to millions that what today is a ‘no’ tomorrow will be a ‘yes’.
In addition to Star Trek she worked with NASA to improve recruitment of woman in NASA including astronauts. In 1992 was awarded a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, for her contribution to television. And in 2016 she was the first woman to receive The Life Career Award, from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.
Yesterday at the age 89 she passed away, but her legacy will live on in and as every new barrier is broken through, as we make steps towards equality of gender, race and orientation, Nichelle Nichols will be behind them all as she showed that it was possible to break those barriers in the first place. Give me the first black superhero, give me a strong female lead, give me the next first, they are all important but let’s remember and celebrate Nichelle Nichols for what she started.
Rest in Peace Nichelle and thank you for the memories.
Write up - Ian Warrender
Video by - Tyler Luyster aka. Fleetpaw Swiftback
Music from Star Trek 6 Soundtrack
Thumbnail Photo Credit - James Cawley (Star Trek Original Series Set Tour - Ticonderoga)
Special Thanks to - Joe Torres