Sixth on our list of inspiring ladies is Nichelle Nichols - American actress, signer and voice artist best known for her role as Uhura on the original Star Trek television series. In addition to acting Nichelle has recorded albums, written two science-fiction novels (Saturns Child and Saturnas Quest), a memoir (Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories) and worked with NASA to help recruit women and minorities. Nichelle Nichols Star Trek character was one of the first African American female characters on American TV not portrayed as a servant. Her portrayal as a key officer on the bridge of the USS Enterprise despite her race and gender was groundbreaking as was the on-screen interracial kiss between Uhura and Captain Kirk. Nichelle had considered leaving Star Trek to pursue a Broadway career but was convinced to continue in the role at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr who asked taht she not give up as seh was providing black children and young women across the country a vital role model. A bit of trivia: The name Uhura was adapted from uhuru, the Swahili word for freedom For more on Nichelle Nichols, you can read her entry on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichelle_Nichols Or, check out her biography on Biography: biography/people/nichelle-nichols-21218845#synopsis
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:07:39 +0000
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