Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) Has Passed Away

[Broomstick]

Nichelle Nichols, who play Lt. Uhura, has passed away at 89 of what her son said was "natural causes".

Nichols, for all that she complained of doing nothing other than "opening hailing frequencies", served as an inspiration to women and people of color. When she considered quitting the show Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged her to stay, saying she did more than she realized just by being on the bridge. Indeed, she helped NASA recruit woman and minorities into the astronaut corps and Mae Jemison, first woman of African descent to go into space (and later a Star Trek extra in The Next Generation) stated Ms. Nichols was a major inspiration for her career choice in life.

She will be missed.

[Crazedwraith]

RIP

An inspiration and a go to example of why representation in media is important.

[Batman]

So what if she was just the girl minding the phone(which she wasn't BTW?) She was the BLACK girl minding the phone ON THE BRIDGE OF THE BLOODY FEDERATION FLAGSHIP! Which in those bad old days likely meant a lot.
Another great one goes to the great beyond. She will be missed.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Sad news indeed, I'm surprised this wasn't bigger news.

[LadyTevar]

Sad news indeed, I'm surprised this wasn't bigger news.

It was in the BBC, and damn near every third post I've seen on FB the last 24 has been some kind of announcement or tribute to her.


And while yes, Uhura was mostly Communications, wasn't it in Balance of Terror that she took over Weapons Console when they had to send someone down to repair the phaser bank?
Someone mentioned it recently, and I had to look it up. There was no big deal made out of it -- the Weapons guy leaves and Uhura moves to take his place. Sulu gave her a nod after she sat down and they went on with running the ship. Hell, I dont' think Kirk even said anything to her before she moved to take over.

[Batman]

Actually, Kirk explicitly tells her to (and calls the station 'navigation' for some reason) but nobody bats an eye at it.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Sad news indeed, I'm surprised this wasn't bigger news.

It was in the BBC, and damn near every third post I've seen on FB the last 24 has been some kind of announcement or tribute to her.


And while yes, Uhura was mostly Communications, wasn't it in Balance of Terror that she took over Weapons Console when they had to send someone down to repair the phaser bank?
Someone mentioned it recently, and I had to look it up. There was no big deal made out of it -- the Weapons guy leaves and Uhura moves to take his place. Sulu gave her a nod after she sat down and they went on with running the ship. Hell, I dont' think Kirk even said anything to her before she moved to take over.

It must have happened too late for the news agencies to report on it yesterday, ITV did a piece on her in today's news, mentioning that she was in a NASA recruitment video in the 70's. And it was somewhat overshadowed by our team winning UEFA Women's Euro 2022 yesterday evening

Actually, Kirk explicitly tells her to (and calls the station 'navigation' for some reason) but nobody bats an eye at it.

I'd been meaning to watch "Balance of Terror" again, now I have another reason

[LadyTevar]

Actually, Kirk explicitly tells her to (and calls the station 'navigation' for some reason) but nobody bats an eye at it.

Yes, I found and posted the Meme that pointed that out. Stiles was excused, Kirk gave Uhura the order, and there was nothing else said, just a lingering camera moment as she took her place, exactly as if she'd been a White Male Military Officer told to take over.
But, in the 1960s, where there were no Black Female Military Officers ... it was HUGE

[Darth Yan]

RIP Uhura.

[Juubi Karakuchi]

The stars are going out.

Farewell Uhura. And Thoth-Kopeira.