We got the sad news this weekend that Nichelle Nichols, who played Nyota Uhura on Star Trek: The Original Series, passed away. Nichols’ Uhura was a groundbreaking character, and one that was an inspiration for many, especially other women of color.
Her role was so influential on TOS that Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to say on after the first season the show, even though she was planning to quit. King’s daughter, attorney Bernice King, emphasized the impact Nichols’ had in her Trek role.
“Representation matters,” King wrote on Twitter. “Excellence in representation matters even more. Thank you #NichelleNichols. Rest well, ancestor.”
Representation matters.
Excellence in representation matters even more.
Thank you, #NichelleNichols.
Rest well, ancestor.pic.twitter.com/LV6e1UYyzG
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 31, 2022
In addition to playing Uhura, Nichols also worked with NASA to improve recruitment of women and people of color to join the astronaut program. Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color in space, also knew Nichols and shared on Twitter that the actor “is forever for me the embodiment of grace, daring, intelligence, fun, inspiration, beauty, talent & the future.” Jemison also added that she was understandably “heart-sad at her passing” and that she considered her friendship with Nichols to be “a great treasure & privilege in my life.”
@NichelleIsUhura is forever for me the embodiment of grace, daring, intelligence, fun, inspiration, beauty, talent & the future.
Today I am heart-sad at her passing.
I consider our dearest friendship a great treasure & privilege in my life. pic.twitter.com/1U1PpWSryy— Dr. Mae Jemison (@maejemison) July 31, 2022
Within the world of Trek, Leonard Nimoy’s son, Adam Nimoy, also shared a lovely photo of her and his dad on set:
My favorite photo of Dad and Nichelle Nichols on set. The importance of Nichelle's legacy cannot be over-emphasized. She was much loved and will be missed. pic.twitter.com/1zlTd4F9BD
— Adam Nimoy (@adam_nimoy) July 31, 2022
Nichols TOS surviving co-stars also shared their remembrances of her. “She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world,” said William Shatner (a.k.a. James T. Kirk) via Twitter.
George Takei, who played Sulu on TOS, also shared his regret at Nichols’ passing. “My heart is heavy,” he wrote. “my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”
We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022
Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, also expressed her appreciation for Nichols’ impact. “Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation,” she wrote on Twitter. “Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you.”
Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you. pic.twitter.com/KhUf4YM6pX
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) July 31, 2022
See below for additional Twitter tributes to Nichols.
Y’all, @nichelleisuhuru.
Heartbroken at the news of her passing, however, I am comforted in the knowledge that she illuminated the way for so of us many with her grace, beauty, talent, intelligence and her commitment to humanity going boldly to the stars! #godess #queen♥️
pic.twitter.com/ye08mXzs3B
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) July 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/Marina_Sirtis/status/1553821372287180804
Today we remember Nichelle Nichols. She starred as Lieutenant Uhura on "Star Trek" wearing this uniform now in our @NMAAHC, making history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for NASA. #BecauseOfHerStory pic.twitter.com/fZZqfGlomz
— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) July 31, 2022
#NichelleNichols thank you, for igniting the flame of a beautiful journey. For myself, and millions of others on our world. We’ll miss you.
— Olatunde Osunsanmi (@CenterWillHold) July 31, 2022
Nichelle Nichols was an icon of representation who will always be special to my family. My mom (here helping her try on an astronaut helmet) gave her a NASA tour in the ’70s. Decades later at a Star Trek reunion, she recognized my mom and ran up to hug her. Rest well, kind soul. pic.twitter.com/aYv8vleGCv
—
David Griner
We stand in her light and honor her today and every day. Thank you, dear Nichelle, for leading the way. 2/2
— Alex Kurtzman (@Alex_Kurtzman) July 31, 2022
https://twitter.com/wcruz73/status/1553824582787891208
Thank you for giving so many of us a place in the universe. #NichelleNichols pic.twitter.com/TycRdKOOfH
— Tawny “My Name is Tawny” Newsome (@TrondyNewman) July 31, 2022
Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.
May she Rest In Peace. #NichelleNichols pic.twitter.com/DONSz6IV2b
— Kate Mulgrew (@TheKateMulgrew) July 31, 2022
She made room for so many of us. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table, she built it! #RIPNichelleNichols
— that hot fish from fantasia (@celiargooding) July 31, 2022
Two of the best days of my life were the days in 2017 I spent with Nichelle Nichols. She told me stories and made "pew pew" sounds when I would sit next to her with my phaser. She inspired me to do what I do now. I'm always be grateful for her beautiful legacy. Rest well. pic.twitter.com/9lbY7V1cvP
— Krystina Arielle (@KrystinaArielle) July 31, 2022
I got to meet #NichelleNichols in 2015 and it is one of my most treasured memories. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. She was infinitely kind and gentle. She inspired me to do what I do.
I am wordless with grief. Rest well among the stars. pic.twitter.com/PT0Bx1ZZfZ
— Noor | High Republic posting (@nimblenoor) July 31, 2022
Queen @dawnn_lewis speaks about the legacy of her friend, the late great @NichelleIsUhura (Nichelle Nichols)
"Beautiful, she was smart, she was capable, she was bad ass"#SDCC #NichelleNichols #StarTrek #DawnnLewis pic.twitter.com/SiNOzyOngO
— Big Gold Belt Media (@BigGoldBelt) August 1, 2022
I don’t remember what I asked her but I remember how I felt as she walked to the corner of the stage to answer my question. I took this blurry picture with my shaking hands. I was in awe of her. She was magnificent. #nichellenichols pic.twitter.com/ySIZLztzXR
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) July 31, 2022
I learned how much representation matters from Nichelle by way of a good friend of mine (who recently passed away as well). I would always be trying to drag my friend to the latest science fiction or fantasy film, and he would always complain about how he didn’t “have the imagination” for that sort of thing. It was his polite way of telling me that he wasn’t interested. So I was always surprised when I would drop by his house and see that he had Star Trek on (the original series or TNG). I found out that the reason he could relate to Trek was because, growing up in the 1960s, he appreciated the representation of Nichelle Nichols. This is why I support multicultural casting in scifi and fantasy today. The people who criticize the existence of something like a black elf in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show don’t seem to realize how important including a character like that can be.
Smooth sailing, Commander. Hailing frequencies closed.
It you have someone like Martin Luther King Jr. come up to you and say, you are important to him, then, by the Great Bird, you are indeed an influential person.
Star Trek worked for social justice, then and now. Nichelle Nichols place as a brilliant scientific specialist on TV every week was a step forward for the US as a nation. Her legacy is part of why Star Trek remains a progressive vision of tomorrow in a harder today. Godspeed, Ma’am.
She was an inspiration, a joy to watch, and always lit up the screen.
I’m so grateful that Nichols stayed on Star Trek in response to Dr. King’s telling her how important her role was, as an equal in the crew. He told her that because of her, Star Trek was one of very few shows which he and his wife allowed their children to watch. So great to see Bernice King’s tribute here! And George Takei’s, and Kate Mulgrew’s, and Mae Jemison’s, and Adam Nimoy’s with the wonderful photo. Thanks for posting all those here!
Janet Kagan’s Uhura’s Song was a book I loved personally. In the 1990’s, an African American friend was looking for book recommendations for her tween daughter, and I gave her a copy of Uhura’s Song–which instantly became the girl’s Favorite Book Ever! Representation matters. Thankfully, there are a lot more options now than there were then, for SFF books appropriate for young people centrally featuring characters of color, including female protagonists. Though I would still recommend Uhura’s Song especially for Black girls, along with a bunch of more recent books by African American authors. And if that spurs the reader to find out about Nichelle Nichols’ life and work and advocacy, so much the better!
I was happy when Uhura was a full commander in Wrath of Khan–another gift to women in that film, along with the character of Saavik!
A friend gave me the “Women of NASA” Lego set the year after it was issued, and I found a peg doll of Uhura to incorporate into that set. Not too out of place & time, given Nichols’ work recruiting folks of color for NASA! I’ll have to set it out this week as a memorial. And re-read Uhura’s Song!
Here are sone of my favorite lines of Lt. Uhura’s, from the original series:
What would they want with his brain?
You are away from your post, mister.
So naturally, when I’m lonely I think of you.
I don’t care whether it’s allowed or not. I will not do it!
It’s a big galaxy, Mister Scott.
Because I want an android body. I want immortality. I’ll live forever, Captain. I’ll be young and beautiful.
But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century we’ve learned not to fear words.
Yes, he’s infuriating, sir. How can you stand it?
Sorry, neither!
Thank you for posting this article.
Almost all the tributes mention some aspect of Nichelle Nichols, from her grace, her zest for life, her intelligence, and so many other things, all deserved. What I remember her most for is her kindness and sense of mischief. It was somewhere around thirty-three years ago that I met her briefly at a very small con (the one room had a single merch table selling photos and other things she could autograph). I don’t know much about those who ran it, or even if they were Trekkies. Their rules for autographs were very strict;:one item per person, no personalization, just her signature. There may have even been a word limit when speaking with her. There was a Goon stationed behind her, presumably to discourage anyone from even asking her to deviate.
A man ahead of me walked up to the table at his turn and told her that his son thought the world of her, and was supposed to be there, but he’d been grievously injured in a car accident and was still in the hospital. He asked if she would put his son’s name in the autograph. She looked at the Goon, looked at the man, looked at the Goon, looked at the man again, then picked up her pen and, with a flourish, wrote something far longer than just her name, all with a mischievous smile just daring the Goon to stop her.
That action, to me, is the embodiment of Nichelle Nichols.