The Freedom of a Star’s Kiss

She shattered sci-fi’s racial barrier. As Communications Officer Uhura, she played a role in a show that changed popular culture. Yet she wanted to leave the show following its disastrous first season. But Martin Luther King Jr. changed everything. It was unusual to have a black woman in a prominent senior role on television and he managed to persuade her to stay. This was during a time when the fight for equality was at its peak, making her presence all the more important. But how did Nichelle Nichols captivate the world?

Star Trek broke barriers in many ways. Television shows at the time featured domestic witches and horses that could talk. But Star Trek presented viewers with thought-provoking stories about violence, prejudice and war. These were the tumultuous social issues of the time.

Star Trek took viewers on a thrilling 23^rd-century journey through the galaxy. It had a diverse cast with black and Asian actors in supporting, non-stereotyped roles. Nichelle was a tall and elegant dancer who also sang in nightclubs. Yet she had limited experience in acting before landing a role in Star Trek.

She was born Grace Dell Nichols on December 28^th 1932 in Illinois. As a child, Nichelle loved the worlds of classical ballet and Afro-Cuban dance.

Unhappy with her given name, she approached her parents with a request for a new name. In response, they suggested the name ‘Nichelle’, explaining that it meant ‘victorious maiden’.

She thought that Star Trek was a ‘nice stepping stone’ toward stardom on Broadway.

She had no idea that this low-tech sci-fi show was about to become a cultural phenomenon.

Strange New Worlds

Nichelle collaborated with Gene Roddenberry, the mastermind behind Star Trek. Together, they infused Uhura with a commanding presence. The series premiered on NBC in 1966. It was a ground-breaking departure for a black actress.

Gene allowed Nichelle to name Nyota Uhura. Nichelle explains that it is a feminised form of a Swahili word meaning ‘freedom’. With her vivid imagination, she pictured her character as a celebrated linguist. Stationed at a flickering console, she oversees a secret team of communication experts. All hidden deep within the ship.

As a young teenager, Whoopi Goldberg recalled the time she watched Star Trek with her family. With An excited scream, she would shout out:

“Come quick, come quick! There’s a black lady on television and she aint no maid!”

On Enterprise’s bridge, Nichelle commanded attention in her vibrant red mini-dress. Amidst the sea of male officers, Uhura’s confident presence was a symbol of progress. She portrayed a future where equality for black people existed without hesitation.

Yet as the first season drew to a close, Nichelle expressed her disappointment. She believed her character was a ‘glorified telephone operator in space’. Forever known for her famous words:

“Hailing frequencies open, sir.”

Nichelle, feeling miserable, had no idea the impact she had made.

The Conflict

Nichelle wrote in her memoir that her lines were often edited out. As well as those of other supporting actors. She pointed the finger of blame at William Shatner. She labelled him as an ‘insensitive hurtful egotist’ who seized his top billing to steal the show.

Studio staff attempted to diminish her ability to negotiate her contract. They did this by hiding the large amount of fan mail she received. She also revealed that she considered leaving the show at the end of its first season.

But she changed her mind after a brief encounter with Martin Luther King Jr.

As soon as Nichelle mentioned her intention to give up her hole, King revealed himself as a Trekkie. His expression turned from joy to horror. It was clear that he understood the importance of Uhura. It was one of only a few non-servant roles for black actors on television at the time. Nichelle said:

“Because of Martin, I looked at work differently. There was something more than just a job.”

Her most famous moment on Star Trek came in the 1968 episode, ‘Plato’s Stepchildren’. A group of powerful beings manipulate the Enterprise crew with mind control. This led to an unexpected kiss between Captain Kirk and Uhura.

In the following years, Nichelle and William celebrated the kiss as a pivotal moment. One that stirred up quite a bit of controversy within the network. Yet it received little public attention back then, in large part due to the show’s lukewarm ratings. But also because Hollywood movies had already shattered similar social norms.

One year earlier, NBC broadcasted a special in which Nancy Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. shared a kiss. Kirk and Uhura’s kiss wasn’t the first interracial kiss on television, but it was one of the first.

The network cancelled Star Trek after three seasons with poor reviews and ratings. But it found a new lease of life in syndication and became a beloved fixture on television.

And Nichelle was a huge part of that.

The Juggernaut of the Stars

In the early 1970s, an animated Star Trek series graced our screens. Nichelle lent her voice to the iconic character of Uhura. Fans of the series, often referred to as ‘Trekkies’, formed communities, thriving at conventions. There they showcased their love for the show by donning elaborate character costumes.

Nichelle returned as Uhura in six feature films from 1979 to 1991. Uhura rose from Lieutenant to Commander. These films propelled Star Trek to unprecedented success and countless spinoffs followed. Many of the original cast members joined her. William Shatner as the valiant Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Leonard Nimoy as the enigmatic Science Officer Spock. DeForest Kelley as the sharp-tongued Dr. McCoy. Gorge Takei as the skilled helmsman Sulu. James Doohan as the brilliant engineer Scotty. And Walter Koenig as the astute navigator, Chekov.

After Star Trek concluded in 1969, NASA presented Nichelle with an exciting opportunity. Her involvement in Trekkie conventions caught the attention of NASA. It led to a remarkable contract in 1977.

This contract assisted in the recruitment of women and minorities as astronauts. Nichelle’s role as an ambassador was modest. Yet we cannot deny the astronaut class of 1978 made significant strides in diversity.

Out of the 35 people selected, there were six women, three black men and one Asian-American man. This was an important moment in NASA’s commitment to inclusivity.

Nichelle Nichols died on July 30^th, 2022. She was 89. Later that year, NASA launched her ashes into deep space, boldly going where no one had gone before.

Nichelle declined to appear in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movie reboot. Despite this, she adored the iconic role that outshone everything else she did.

“If you’ve got to be typecast, at least it’s someone with dignity.”

The Freedom of a Star’s Kiss

Nichelle changed everything with Communications Officer Uhura in the original Star Trek series.

She played a pivotal role in changing television with her portrayal of a black woman in a position of power. And she shattered stereotypes along the way. Her kiss with Shatner was one of the earliest interracial kisses on television. Yet Uhura played a crucial role that extended far beyond that kiss.

Nichelle skilfully portrayed a character that changed the perception of black people on television.

She found freedom on a star’s kiss.

“Star Trek represented, and still does represent, the future we can have, a future that is beyond the petty squabbles we are dealing with here on Earth, now as much as ever, and we are able to devote ourselves to the betterment of all humankind by doing what we do so well: explore. This kind of a future isn’t impossible – and we need to all rethink our priorities to really bring that vision to life.”

– Nichelle Nichols.

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