Nichelle Nichols on how Dr. MLK, Jr. dissuaded her from quitting Star Trek - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG 

This is why Star Trek is important.

I know so many people see us Star Trek fans as geeks. That's okay. But this video is a prime example of why we are Star Trek fans. MLK, Nichelle Nichols to me are two heroes in American history and in the Star Trek universe two heroes of Earth's history. You see, in the Star Trek future there is no more racism, no more bigotry and no more poverty. Gene Roddenberry's vision was pure and holy. A unification of humanity. Imagine how awesome that would be! Thank you Nichelle for contributing to that vision. (by the way, in my opinion, Nichelle was the most beautiful woman in all the Star Trek series).

I love that she couldn't remember the name of the play she almost left for.

Gene Roddenberry gave a speech at my Canadian university one evening in 1983 or 84 - he told this story as well, from his point of view. He was very proud, as I recall. I got goosebumps while watching this.

I find this deeply moving for many reasons. We owe such thanks to Mr. Roddenbery, Ms. Nichols, Dr. King, all the cast and crew of the show, and so many others before us -- and to uncounted numbers of people now working for the betterment of our one race: humans.

I laughed so hard. "Why me?" That was Mozes's line when God told him he would be the one to lead the people out of bondage. Good job Nichelle. Good job.

little girls in the 60s, 70s needed someone to look up to, Lindsay Wagner, Nichel Nichols, peggy Lipton, Kate Jackson, wow how wonderful that you came into my life.

I wish Gene Roddenberry and Martin Luther King Jr could have met. Both visionaries, both pioneers in shaping the future, both advocates for equality and social issues. Such a meeting would have been an amazing and wonderful thing as they shared their dream.

Uhura kicks ass!

Incredible! Nichelle exudes class, deportment, dexterity...stunning!

The real question is this: Was Dr. King's desire to keep Nichols on the show driven more by his role as a civil rights activist or by his nerdiness as a Trekkie?

She is such an amazing woman and was just so lovely to talk to even briefly so much respect for her

Awesome interview! In so many ways Star Trek was a culture bearing show that was way ahead of its time. I don't mean the technology, but the way Rodenberry viewed humanity.

I love Nichelle Nichols. She is an awesome woman. Great story. A while back I never knew Martin Luther King, Jr. was a fan of Star Trek and convinced her to remain on the series. I thought that was very cool. Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek are just awesome. People would wonder why I'm a fan. :)

Didn't know you were making history but you sure were! You played my favorite character! Thank you, Ms Nichols, for being who you are and for all you do and have done. We love you!

This is so touching and wonderful, oh my god. :D

I'll be 41 soon and I'm proud to be a Star Trek fan....science fiction has always been ahead of its time ...no greater case then in Trek. I introduced my GF to Trek and once she was hooked we watched every show n movie in order on Netflix. She was completely blown away by how progressive it was from the technology to the gender equality ....from the 60s to the 90s and beyond ...very few other shows capture the spirit of unity that Trek has always shown us. Proud to be a fan man....proud. LLAP, Beautiful lady

So talented. Thank you so much for staying on. Can't imagine Star Trek without you.

She's beautiful

Wow. Great story. Nichelle is a real class act.

This 51 year old white boy sure had a crush on this woman back in the early days :-)

everyone has a calling in life,and we might say why me and not understand in the begining,but in the end it becomes clear why you were chosen when you find out how many people you helped and affected in a positive way,thats what happen to Nichelle Nichols , but it took Dr Martin Luther King and Gene Roddenberry to help open her eyes and realize it,a very special story

Beautiful, amazing, and enlightening. Thank you Nichelle Nichols for staying the course.

Mr Roddenberry was truly a great man,,,

A very touching interview! I agree with Ms. Nichols that Universe has a purpouse for everyone. Every person has a play in this big stage of life. I've never heard this anecdote before. Just right out of a script suited for the classic crew of the Enterprise! Thanks for sharing it with the fans of Star Trek series.

Aside from telling so many memorable human interest stories as we'll as science fiction ones, Star Trek has so many real historical memorable human interest stories happening in the background as well. This is one of the most famous.

I catch feelings every time I listen to that.

There is a Star Talk radio interview between Dr Tyson and Nichelle Nichols where she and he both hint that Gene may have contacted Dr King. It is probable that he COULD have contacted him, but I ask the same question. Did he? It would be a truly awesome story.

This caught me at a WOW moment. I'm speechless !!!

Happy Birthday Nichelle Nichols 12-28-2014

haha Awesome story. "What you talkin' 'bout Doctor King?"

Oh wow! This was fantastic! What a classy lady.

Powerful testimony.....

Truely outstanding!She is one of my favorite Star Trek stars.

I am not a minority of any consequence, really. However, if it weren't for people like Gene and Nichelle, geeks and nerds WOULD be a minority. He opened lots of doors, and not just for "ethnic" minorities. LaForge was not only black, but also disabled(blind). Without the original series, and its groundbreaking casting, he would have just been another random white face with functional eyes. Worf was an alien. And not just some generic guy in a costume. He had heritage and history to which he stayed true. He wasn't "acclimated" to humanity. To him and the Enterprise crew, "Humanity" was more of an ideal than actual genetics. He was certainly more humane than many others who would call themselves "Human".

Growing up, at least until high school, I never placed a difference on person based on gender, race, ethnicity, or color. I saw everyone as just people. The reason why I say high school is because I was not yet fully aware of how harsh things were in the past, and only then did I see how some people would group themselves off based on what ethnic or racial background they were. I think it is all rather sad

Thanks, Nichelle Nichols, for your amazing gift to us all. I'm glad you got to sing for us, even if you didn't make it to Broadway! =)

this is a very good interview!

I know it's been four months, since you said this. But if Gene Roddenberry got Dr. king to talk to her, that would also be a great story.

beautiful black queen.

America no longer has true, authentic and servant leadership. We now have, it's-all -about-me leadership. I'm a star, I am rich, I am a celebrity, you must love me leadership.

I love that woman.

Who would down vote this video?

Fascinating, captain

Happy MLK day!

Great story. I don't know if Gene had that kind pull at the time to actually set MLK to persuade her but it would be amazing if it was all by chance.

Wow!

Damn!

Wooow, great video! Thanks for sharing.

Amazing!

Touching revolution. .

STAR TREK WERE GREAT

\\// LLAP

Stories like this and Whoopi Goldberg's are so inspiring decades later. The new Star Trek (and Enterprise too) lack this quality. Maybe because we now live in a world of moral ambiguity, but there's not much of a clear message in it now.

T.T

you believe that the world in which nichols was the single positive portrayal of a black american on tv was less 'morally ambiguous' than the one we live in now?

It's sad that she had to feel OBLIGED to keep the role in Star Trek. It was definitely a hard decision.

What a difference from the weird George Takai who I never thought was a particularly engaging actor on the show. Nichelle was terrific and enchanting. So glad MLK persuaded her and that she stayed on the show.

It's funny, but I swear this story is different every time I hear her tell it. But I believe it happened and it's still an inspiring story.

So what, MLK was at roddenberry's beck and call? I don't know about fate, but life does have many chance encounters and sometimes these happen at the right moment in the right place, or, seemingly they do.

Its a figure of speech, c'mon...

Nichelle Nichols has such class. Since the new "Star Trek" movies have recast a young woman in a role that promotes being bitchy and obnoxious, I think Nichelle should come back from the future, kill off the new Urura to take over the role herself. That would be AWESOME!! Leonard Nimoy came back for Zach Quinto. Nichelle should just go one step further and re-assume the role. Please....please....

I don't think so... loool..