Star Trek did not promise that people would magically become inherently “better,” but that they would progress, always reaching for their highest potential and noblest goals, even if it took centuries of taking two steps forward and one step back. Ideally, humankind would be guided in its quest by reason and justice.
Nichelle Nichols
I think that tonight, it’s especially important to remember the “even if it took centuries of taking two steps forward and one step back” part of this beautiful quote from a woman who made history in her own role advancing reason and justice. We’ve taken a step back–a big one. But that does not mean that, together, we can’t continue to move forward.
from “For the Love of Spock” (George Takei talking about the time when they wanted to cut him and Nichols/Uhura out of Star Trek and Nimoy was having none of it)
Everyone should know, in the 70s Nichelle Nichols went to NASA and asked why there weren’t black astronauts in the pipeline, and they said, “Come recruit for us.” And she did.
“From the late 1970’s until the late 1980’s, NASA employed Nichelle
Nichols to recruit new astronaut candidates. Many of her new recruits
were women or members of racial and ethnic minorities, including Guion
Bluford (the first African-American astronaut), Sally Ride (the first
female American astronaut), Judith Resnik (one of the original set of
female astronauts, who perished during the launch of the Challenger on
January 28, 1986), and Ronald McNair (the second African-American
astronaut, and another victim of the Challenger accident).“ (x)
