Nichelle Nichols

[nanila]

From actual astronauts last week, we go to Fictional Astronauts this week. Leading the way with her seminal role as communications officer Lieutenant Uhura in the original TV series Star Trek is actress and singer Nichelle Nichols. After the Star Trek series was cancelled, Nichols volunteered at NASA to help recruit minority and female personnel. One of her recruits was Charles Bolden, who was an astronaut...and is now Administrator of NASA.

Comments

[kindkit]

*hearts*

Star Trek: TOS also, in one episode (I don't have enough time at the moment to check which one it was) featured a black woman engineer who competently solved a problem, gave orders to the men under her command (which were obeyed), and was not in any way punished or shown to renounce her work for TWU LUUUUUUV. TOS had a lot of moments of gender-related fail, but it's nice to remember the win, too.

[medie]

Lieutenant Charlene Masters from The Alternative Factor. LOVED HER.

[nanila]

Rats, I don't remember that episode. The original series didn't have as big an influence on my formative years as The Next Generation but I'd love to re-watch that one.