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Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

Photo of actress Nichelle Nichols waving at fans.

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
David L. Nevins
By David L. NevinsAug 02, 2022
David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins serves as publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action. He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
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At the age of 89 actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known as Star Trek's communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico.

Nichols is best known for playing Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series. As the first Black woman to play a leading role on 1960s TV, her character was inspirational to many.

Before Ms. Nichols’ trailblazing role in “Star Trek”, Black female actors of the time were most often relegated to playing the part of maids or other racist roles.

Ms. Nichols was an active civil rights advocate, and like many Black actors of her time her voice was also heard off the screen on issues important to her. In 1977, four years after the last Apollo moon mission, Nichols challenged NASA to recruit more women and minorities.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson remembered Nichols in a statement:

“Nichelle Nichols was a trailblazing actress, advocate and dear friend to NASA. At a time when Black women were seldom seen on screen, Nichelle’s portrayal as Nyota Uhura on Star Trek held a mirror up to America that strengthened civil rights,” said Administrator Bill Nelson. “Nichelle’s advocacy transcended television and transformed NASA. After Apollo 11, Nichelle made it her mission to inspire women and people of color to join this agency, change the face of STEM and explore the cosmos. Nichelle’s mission is NASA’s mission. Today, as we work to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon under Artemis, NASA is guided by the legacy of Nichelle Nichols.”

Many NASA engineers attribute their interest in space to Ms. Nichols. Tracy Drains is one whose job literally “goes where no one has gone before” in the groundbreaking work she does as a design engineer for NASA.

Throughout the history of our nation pop culture has played an important role in changing what is accepted in society and in 1968, Nichols made headlines when Uhura shared an intimate kiss with Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) in an episode called "Plato's Stepchildren." At that time their interracial kiss on the lips was revolutionary.

Ms. Nichols legacy will continue through her foundation that she established to assist young people in arts and sciences and assists other organizations to provide them a helping hand.

She will forever inspire people to boldly go and discover their dreams.


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