A story of boldly going where no one had gone before! Nichelle Nichol’s role as Lieutenant Uhura in the original Star Trek series was groundbreaking. Civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. praised her work for defying stereotypes and revolutionizing portrayals of Black individuals on television. Her influence and advocacy for more diversity at NASA sparked new interest in space travel and helped to recruit brilliant STEM talents like Dr. Sally Ride, Colonel Guion Bluford, and Mae Jemison.

 

If you liked this story about Nichelle Nichols, you may also enjoy these episodes of hidden heroes in space exploration: 1) Mary Golda Ross and 2) Brave Aviators, where we featured Mae Jemison.