RIP Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek's Lt. Uhura)

[wicorman]

Nichelle Nichols, whom many (including me) remember well as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek, passed away on July 30th at 89.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/31/ente ... index.html

She was previously a successful singer and dancer, but her role as Uhura was ground-breaking on US TV in portraying a non-stereotyped African American character in a position of authority (Uhura was technically 4th in command of USS Enterprise). The name Uhura was derived from the Swahili word for freedom or independence (uhuru).
She thought of leaving Star Trek after the first season, but was persuaded by no less then Martin Luther King, who told her she had to stay because her role as Uhura meant so much for the civil rights movement.

Later, she helped promote diversity in NASA's space programme.