Nichelle Nichols, aka, Lt. Nyota Uhura from the original Star Trek series, passed away over the weekend at the age of 89..The name screams beauty, passion, integrity, legend…Most of you who listen to Shemon and Sheppard over the past 5+ years know what a big Star Trek fan I am..Like many, I was only 3 when the show went off the air after NBC decided to cut their 5 year mission short to only 3 years..However, when I got a little older and started watching “reruns” with mostly my dad from the mid-70’s, I totally fell in love with the show..In 1975 when I was 8, I really didn’t understand “race relations” all that well or what her impacts as an African-American officer on the show meant..They were all just really cool stories to me with a diverse set of characters/actors..Besides her incredible passion on tv and even more so in the 6 Star Trek movies that followed with her in it, she became a Star Trek icon just like all the other main characters..
What some may not know is that she was going to quit the show after the first season saying her character “lacked depth”..However, one of the biggest fans of the show, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed her mind..Nichelle met him at a social occasion and called her over telling her “You can’t leave….For the first time on television, we will be seen as we should be seen every day, as intelligent, quality, beautiful, people who can sing dance, and can go to space, who are professors, lawyers.” Dr. King Jr went further stating “If you leave, that door can be closed because your role is not a black role, and is not a female role; he can fill it with anybody even an alien.”..Well my friends, the rest is history..Below are my top 3 Nichelle Nichols moments…Thanks for the all the great memories Nichelle..Rest in Peace..