Star Trek OS Saved By American Hero
Several decades ago, one of our greatest Americans acted to save the original Star Trek show… as we know it.
After the first season, Nichelle Nichols decided her character, Lt. Uhura, was going nowhere and she had better things to do.
Producer/creator Gene Roddenberry tried to talk her out of it, but was unsuccessful. The following night, Nichols appeared at an NAACP fundraiser where she discussed her decision with a man who said he was her biggest fan. This man was a gifted speaker, and he talked her out of it. That man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Earlier this week Nichols told a panel at the Television Critics Association press tour that Star Trek was the only television show he and his wife would permit their three children to watch, largely because the show portrayed a black woman as an astronaut. That was quite revolutionary back in the mid-60s, when black actors simply did not have regular roles on teevee – with the exception of I Spy (1965, the year before Star Trek went on the air) and Julia (1968, Trek’s final season). Nichols quoted Dr. King as saying, “You are part of history, and it’s your responsibility, even though it wasn’t your career choice.”
That’s pretty cool. Sadly, Dr. King wasn’t around to see
just how inspiring her character was, but he was a believer.
This is amazing!! Has Nichelle Nichols ever mentioned this before? I’m sure I would’ve remembered it.
Yes, she’s mentioned this before.
.
Rick
First I’d heard of it, George. But ComicMixers Hauman and Greenberger would know better. They were born with phasers in their maws.
Glenn and Bob are a bit younger than me. Robby thr Robot changed my diapers, and my pacifier was Krell metal.
I heard it from Nichelle in an interview fifteen or so years ago.
Nichelle mentioned it in an interview fifteen or more years back.
I recall reading that Nichelle was Roddenberry’s girlfriend (he was still married to his first wife).
And that she was rather shaken t discover that Majel Barrett was *also* his GF at the same time.
And he wound up marrying Barrett.
Wonder if that had anything to do with the situation.
Gene was a major league womanizer. Only Charlie Wilson and Hugh Hefner were in his league.
Majel was actually involved with Gene first, from what I’ve heard.
Well, yeah; that’s why – according to reports – Majel was in both pilots and the series.
Find Bob Justman and Herb Solow’s book. Trek history without varnish. They knew from before the first pilot that Majel was Gene’s girlfriend.
She was my surprise guest on my annual Black Panel last year at Comic Con. When she walked in the place exploded. She lives around the block from me, I see her all the time at restaurants, supermarkets, etc. Whenever I see her and even after meeting and talking to her for a while I still feel like I’m standing in the presence of greatness every single time.
She bolted pretty fast in the middle of that panel. I believe that’s because Ludacris farted.
That was Denys.
Aw, Michael.. you are so damn lucky. All I’ve got living near me are a buncha old fart musicians. Old, tired and forgotten. Who these days knows anything about Robert Plant or Steve Winwood? (evil grin) Seriously, I haven’t seen Nichelle at a con in years, and I love her dearly. What she is, greatness isn’t an accurate term.
Miles, when I moved to Fairfield County Connecticut I lived within shouting distance from a zillion old cartoonists. It was an amazing experience for a comics fan and historian. Loved every minute of it. I still live there, but I’m gnawing at my wrists. And the old cartoonists are now mostly dead cartoonists.
When I lived on my own in Chicago I lived right in the heart of the music scene — hearts, actually. This was convenient as I was disc jockeying at the time. Steve Goodman, Jethro Burns, David Bromberg (who had stopped performing in order to learn how to build violins; I ran into him from time to time at a hot dog joint called Wiener and Still Champion). I even had barbecue with Willie Dixon at a Jewish deli that had been Al Capone’s favorite, near Chess Records. As for Robert Plant… I was introduced to him when Gene Simmons and I were having lunch at the old Wolf’s Deli on 57th Street in Manhattan. I know he was in there somewhere, hidden within a thick cloud of cigarette smoke.
Now I live in the astonishingly boring Norwalk CT. I gotta get out of this place, if it’s the last thing I ever do.
(wailing piteously) And I thought I was lucky, all the old pros I knew through working MidSouthCon. I knew a few musicians growing up, mostly because their lawyers were in my mom’s office building. Isaac Hayes, Sam Samudio, and a few others. Spent a while drinking with Rufus Thomas in a friend’s kitchen before MSC one year; I think that was 1990. Or 91.
Oddly, here in Nashville there are so many professional musicians running about that they kinda blur together. The coffee shop down the street, Bongo Java, attracts musicians, politicians, all manner of icians. I have an ician allergy, so I try to stay outta there. Too expensive.
Nichelle was never romantically involved with Roddenberry in any way (although she said she did love him). She’s told the story about Martin Luther King before. She was frustrated by the fact that all she seemed to be doing was passing along messages to the Captain, and not much else.
She wrote an autobiography in the mid-90’s called “Beyond Uhura”; if you can find it, it was a really fascinating read.
Not only has Nichelle mentioned this in her autobiography, Shatner wrote about it in “Star Trek Memories” which ticked Nichelle off royally because it scooped HER reveal in print! I met her briefly 20 years ago at a convention. No camera or canvas could do her beauty justice!
Nichelle may not have been romantically involved, but she sure as hell was sexually involved. I can’t think of any other reason why Bob Justman would find her naked under Gene’s desk for a birthday surprise.
Reading the various accounts, it’s pretty obvious that being a woman involved with gene was kinda like being a man involved with Joanne Herring; sex was gonna enter into things somewhere. Read Justman and Solow’s book, “Inside Star Trek”. They had a lot to say about Gene, not much of it complimentary.
This is amazing!! Has Nichelle Nichols ever mentioned this before? I'm sure I would've remembered it.
Yes, she's mentioned this before..Rick
First I'd heard of it, George. But ComicMixers Hauman and Greenberger would know better. They were born with phasers in their maws.
Glenn and Bob are a bit younger than me. Robby thr Robot changed my diapers, and my pacifier was Krell metal.
I heard it from Nichelle in an interview fifteen or so years ago.
Nichelle mentioned it in an interview fifteen or more years back.
Ah. So that’s why Cowan’s always smiling!
I recall reading that Nichelle was Roddenberry's girlfriend (he was still married to his first wife).And that she was rather shaken t discover that Majel Barrett was *also* his GF at the same time.And he wound up marrying Barrett.Wonder if that had anything to do with the situation.
Gene was a major league womanizer. Only Charlie Wilson and Hugh Hefner were in his league. Majel was actually involved with Gene first, from what I've heard.
Well, yeah; that's why – according to reports – Majel was in both pilots and the series.
Find Bob Justman and Herb Solow's book. Trek history without varnish. They knew from before the first pilot that Majel was Gene's girlfriend.
She was my surprise guest on my annual Black Panel last year at Comic Con. When she walked in the place exploded. She lives around the block from me, I see her all the time at restaurants, supermarkets, etc. Whenever I see her and even after meeting and talking to her for a while I still feel like I'm standing in the presence of greatness every single time.
She bolted pretty fast in the middle of that panel. I believe that's because Ludacris farted.
That was Denys.
Aw, Michael.. you are so damn lucky. All I've got living near me are a buncha old fart musicians. Old, tired and forgotten. Who these days knows anything about Robert Plant or Steve Winwood? (evil grin) Seriously, I haven't seen Nichelle at a con in years, and I love her dearly. What she is, greatness isn't an accurate term.
Miles, when I moved to Fairfield County Connecticut I lived within shouting distance from a zillion old cartoonists. It was an amazing experience for a comics fan and historian. Loved every minute of it. I still live there, but I'm gnawing at my wrists. And the old cartoonists are now mostly dead cartoonists.When I lived on my own in Chicago I lived right in the heart of the music scene — hearts, actually. This was convenient as I was disc jockeying at the time. Steve Goodman, Jethro Burns, David Bromberg (who had stopped performing in order to learn how to build violins; I ran into him from time to time at a hot dog joint called Wiener and Still Champion). I even had barbecue with Willie Dixon at a Jewish deli that had been Al Capone's favorite, near Chess Records. As for Robert Plant… I was introduced to him when Gene Simmons and I were having lunch at the old Wolf's Deli on 57th Street in Manhattan. I know he was in there somewhere, hidden within a thick cloud of cigarette smoke.Now I live in the astonishingly boring Norwalk CT. I gotta get out of this place, if it's the last thing I ever do.
(wailing piteously) And I thought I was lucky, all the old pros I knew through working MidSouthCon. I knew a few musicians growing up, mostly because their lawyers were in my mom's office building. Isaac Hayes, Sam Samudio, and a few others. Spent a while drinking with Rufus Thomas in a friend's kitchen before MSC one year; I think that was 1990. Or 91. Oddly, here in Nashville there are so many professional musicians running about that they kinda blur together. The coffee shop down the street, Bongo Java, attracts musicians, politicians, all manner of icians. I have an ician allergy, so I try to stay outta there. Too expensive.
Nichelle was never romantically involved with Roddenberry in any way (although she said she did love him). She's told the story about Martin Luther King before. She was frustrated by the fact that all she seemed to be doing was passing along messages to the Captain, and not much else.She wrote an autobiography in the mid-90's called "Beyond Uhura"; if you can find it, it was a really fascinating read.
Not only has Nichelle mentioned this in her autobiography, Shatner wrote about it in "Star Trek Memories" which ticked Nichelle off royally because it scooped HER reveal in print! I met her briefly 20 years ago at a convention. No camera or canvas could do her beauty justice!
Nichelle may not have been romantically involved, but she sure as hell was sexually involved. I can't think of any other reason why Bob Justman would find her naked under Gene's desk for a birthday surprise. Reading the various accounts, it's pretty obvious that being a woman involved with gene was kinda like being a man involved with Joanne Herring; sex was gonna enter into things somewhere. Read Justman and Solow's book, "Inside Star Trek". They had a lot to say about Gene, not much of it complimentary.
Ah. So that's why Cowan's always smiling!
I remember seeing her speak at a convention in the mid to late 90s and she told this story.
I remember seeing her speak at a convention in the mid to late 90s and she told this story.
Even after completely breaking the Uhura cast mold with her turn as the “DON’T *%(% with Me” madam role in Truck Turner, the absolutely beautiful Ms. Nichols will forever be the Queen of Space to me.
Same here, Reg. Haven’t seen that movie in years; I’ll have to find a copy someplace.
Miles, trust me brother…. some memories from those days best remain in the past. ;-)
Hoo boy, are you right about that. I still have some memories that refuse to go away, and Facebook don’t help; my friends list includes several old girlfriends and a former roommate, none of whom I missed all that much…
Even after completely breaking the Uhura cast mold with her turn as the "DON'T *%(% with Me" madam role in Truck Turner, the absolutely beautiful Ms. Nichols will forever be the Queen of Space to me.
Same here, Reg. Haven't seen that movie in years; I'll have to find a copy someplace.
Miles, trust me brother…. some memories from those days best remain in the past. ;-)
Hoo boy, are you right about that. I still have some memories that refuse to go away, and Facebook don't help; my friends list includes several old girlfriends and a former roommate, none of whom I missed all that much…