Talk:Nichelle Nichols

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[edit] Discussion

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In her work on ST:TOS(Star Trek:The Original Series), Nichols was the only regular cast member who did not have a contract and this was because of her race and prejudice among the studio executives. However, Gene Roddenberry promised that he would keep her as "busy" as the other ST:TOS actors in her role of Uhuru. Her role was still not as fulfilling as she wanted, which led to her wishing to quit and to Dr. King's request to her not to quit in order to boost the image and hopes of African Americans in US society.

Unfortunately, ST originator Gene Rodenberry initiated something of a dishonest affair with Nichols, and suddenly one day drove her to Majel Barrett's house to show Nichelle that he had a relationship with Barrett that would supersede any with Nichols. Nichelle accepted it well and continued to be a big contributor to Star Trek in its various incarnations. Later, at the end of his life when Roddenberry was extremely ill, he became delerious at a gathering in his honor and lamented loudly how he had always loved Nichols best. Some sources think that he did not marry Nichelle because an interacial marriage would have ruined his career. Nichols, always taking the high road, took Barrett aside at the gatherong to assure her that Gene loved Majel and was just delirious. Nichelle has always risen above prejudicial and unfair circumstances in her life and is still an excellent role model, just as Dr. King proclaimed her to be many years earlier.

Remove opinion, anything unsubstantiated, write in NPOV, explain who Roddenberry and Barrett are, do not editorialize.

Quill 23:11, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)

  • Most of that sounds really made up. I'd think something like this would have found it's way to Star trek Circles by now: I suggest this part be cited before being added in any re-write. - AJHalliwell 19:06, 27 August 2005 (UTC)
Read "Beyond Uhura". I own a copy. The section is almost lifted word for word from her own admissions. She has admitted to the affair, and it never seemed to bother her or harm her life. I think it may be appropriate to leave it in, as an affair between a producer and an actor is a conflict of interest which regrettably casts aspersions on Nichols's casting. (Don't get me wrong - I think she earned her part and played it well. But some will think that, and accuse us of covering it up.)
It's also true that she overcame a lot of racism and hatred in her life. She mentions several times she was the victim of racial prejudice and misogyny. I'm not sure whether it would be appropriate to air those on wikipedia though. More info on her family life and marriage would be appropriate, though. Personal opinion: what a lady.
-Kasreyn 07:24, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Proper Rank

On the article for the character Uhura it states that Uhura's rank is that of commander. The image caption on this article states Nichols as Lt. Uhuru. I have also noticed in some parodies the character Uhura referred to as Lt. Uhura. Could anyone confirm the character Uhura's actual rank and fix the caption? --Sudachi 14:55, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Both are in fact correct: the Uhura article gives her 'current' rank (i.e. the rank she had obtained the last time she was seen in accordance with the time line of the Star Trek series and films) while the image refers to her as Lt. Uhura because that was her rank at the time that image depicts. I hope that makes some kind of sense... SteveW 20:28, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)
    • In the picture, Uhura is a Lieutenant. But over time she'd been promoted to Commander. (what he said). -AJHalliwell 19:06, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] NASA Recruitment

I added four of the people, she recruited for NASA. The names are copied from her german Article. This is also mentioned least in the Ronald McNair article in the english Wikipedia. 141.22.4.130 13:27, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Added background

New bio information added which should remove current status of dispute.

WSpaceport 03:35, 30 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Alleged Meeting With MLK

  • In the late 1970s, Nichols, interviewed on "Nova" (iirc), stated quite clearly that it was a phone call from Dr. King that got her to change her mind about leaving "Star Trek.". Long-time convention-goers on several Trek Boards state the story has changed considerably over the years. This leads me to believe Dr. King never contacted her in any form or fashion, however, I am loathe to add this info as it may appear meanspirited and/or prejudicial. What do the Admins and other posters think? Sir Rhosis 18:33, 25 February 2006 (UTC)
We can only summarize verifiable information from reliable sources. If she says she had a conversation then we should report that (if we think it notable). If others have notably questioned the assertion then we should summarize their viewpoint as well. But gossip at a convention would not count as a reliable source. Have any articles mentioned the discrepancies? Do any bios of MLK mention the conversation? -Will Beback 22:42, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

I cannot recall the source but I have heard that MLK's "people" have said that they cannot confirm nor deny that Dr. King and Nichols met. I have not seen a newspaper or interviewer question her story about the supposed meeting. Again, I think most people back off lest they be called nasty names for daring to question her everchanging version of the story.

My main source, as I noted, is not the convention gossip, but Nichols' own words in the 1970s interview, which I do not have a copy of, nor, honestly, can I swear that it was "Nova" (the main thrust of the interview concerned her activities as a NASA recruiter, and the "telephone call from Dr. King" was just something she dropped into the conversation). I do one hundred percent remember that she definitely said it was a phone call. But, as I said, since I cannot point to the specific date of the interview, I am somewhat hesitant about posting it.

Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it. Sir Rhosis 23:52, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

Since there is doubt about the nature of it, I've changed "change and moving meeting" to "conversation". That doesn't imply a face to face meeting and could include a telephone call. As more sources become available we can refine the assertion. Cheers, -Will Beback 00:41, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Interracial

In it she states that she had a lengthy interracial love affair with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

I appreciate that the affair occured in a time when it was still controversial in certain places for interracial relationships but given that the affair was largely a secret and as such the interracial aspect of it was never significant, is it really necessary to say it's interracial? It seems to me the bigger issue is the allegation as mentioned in the Gene Roddenberry page the affair may have been the motivation for her role as Uhura Nil Einne 22:19, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

I've removed the word "interracial" in the section in question. When I can find the time, I'm going to check my copy of her autobio to see whether the affair occurred before or after ST. Kasreyn 21:13, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
It was before. In fact, Rodenberry's last-minute addition of her to the cast was presented to the studio executives by stating, "I'd like to add some color to the bridge." I can't find a citation, but I heard it in an interview over 15 years ago (before his death), and it's probably quoted in her book, too. --Dennette 21:30, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
Cool, thanks!  :) Kasreyn 00:33, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Did she employ the word "interracial" in this context? That influences relevance.

Hopiakuta 17:33, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

I have changed the wording around to say it was the first kiss between interracial characters, not actors (note Frances Nguyen, who played an alien in Elaan of Troyius) Kransky 09:32, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nichelle_Nichols Grace Nichols

Hopiakuta 17:33, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. Do we need to create some sort of disambiguation link at the top of one of the pages in order to deal with this? Or is the fact that their current names are different enough to avoid reader confusion? Kasreyn 01:51, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] One of the first African-American Women Featured in a Non-stereotypical role on a major television series

Cicely Tyson, who played the role of a secretary on the 1963/64 series "East Side/West Side," was actually the first African-American woman in a non-stereotypical role in a major American series. Though the show is rarely seen today, it starred George C. Scott and received favorable notices for Miss Tyson's work when it was aired. Therefore I have changed Miss Nichols' bio to read "one of the first African-American women in a major series." Sir Rhosis 05:40, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

The Little Rascals had African American kids as equals with whites, came out in film in the 1920s. While not being television, this deserves to be a milestone more than Star Trek's highly conditional claim. Kransky 11:21, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Star Trek in Britain

I have removed the line "It was over twenty-five years before it was broadcast on British television" from the Star Trek section, regarding the so-called "inter-racial" kiss in the episode "Plato's Stepchildren." This was not pulled from British TV for the kiss scene, rather because of viewer complaints about "sadistic violence" in certain episodes. Star Trek was shown very early in the evening, and was watched by a lot of children. The original complaint was about the episode Miri. The BBC reviewed subsequent episodes and dropped "Plato's Stepchildren", "The Empath" and "Whom Gods Destroy."

Leesonic 14:14, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Birth Year

Is there a source for a 1932 year of birth? As a long-time ST fan, I've always sen 1933 as her birth year. Sir Rhosis 12:36, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

IMDB gives it as 1932, Memory Alpha as 1933. But I haven't found a reliable source (yet). Garion96 (talk) 12:41, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Southern" TV stations refusing to show "Plato's Stepchildren"

I put a "citation needed" tag after the sentance, "The episode was not telecast in some Southern cities as a result of the protests in those states".

To put it bluntly, I'm about 99.9997% sure this is totally untrue. Although the "interratial kiss" generated some controversy and reaction, numerous articles written on the subject over the years suggested that it produced more "controversy" amongst NBC's censors than amongst any other group. In fact, I can recall reading numerous articles that state that while the censors *warned* that stations in the south *might* refuse to air the episode, *none actually DID refuse.*

I came very close to simply deleting the line, as I'm strongly of the opinion it isn't true. However, I decided to leave the "citation needed" tag for a week or so and see if anyone can find a credible citation that some station did, in fact, refuse to air "Plato's Stepchildren" because of the kiss.

If no credible citation is forthcoming, I believe this sentance should be struck. (and will probably do so myself in no one else does). -Fish Man

---Well, after several weeks with the "citation needed", none was forthcoming; and since I have a distinct memory of hearing both Gene Rodenberry and Nichelle Nicols, when speaking at CON's and (in the case of GR) universities, stating that the censors *warned* that southern TV stations might refuse to air the episode but also emphatically stating that *none actually DID (refuse)*, I believe the claim is without any credible reference and is, in fact, not true. -Fish Man

---It's now about 90 days. No citation forthcoming. I've removed the reference for the second time. PLEASE, IF ANYONE FEELS COMPELLED TO PUT THIS CLAIM BACK IN, FIND A SOURCE CITATION!!!  :) -Fish Man

[edit] Psychic encounters

No mention of her involvement with "psychic encounters" MrMarmite (talk) 09:43, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Image

I just uploaded Image:Nichelle Nichols in the Dragon Con 2007 parade.jpg in case you want to use it. —Disavian (talk/contribs) 19:31, 31 May 2008 (UTC)