There was a time when Nichelle Nichols was thinking of leaving Star Trek for Broadway, but a conversation with Martin Luther King Jr got her to change her mind.
The actress shared the story with MeTV about their chance meeting. The great civil rights leader was a big fan of the show and she told him she was going to leave Outer Space for the great white way. He said to her, “You mean leave Star Trek?” When she told him that she had to, he told her, “You cannot. Do you know what you have done and the honor you bring this role? And people who see you believe you.” Then he added, “You can’t leave. There are too many of us out here who are effected, children are growing up with you.” She explained to him that she could always come back, and he said to her, “It won’t be the same.” After a little bit of arguing back and forth, with one look he got his way. She never regretted taking his advice. And we never regretted her taking his advice.
If you don’t the history of why it was so important for her to stay on the show. She is the one of first African-American woman to play a character that was not a servant. She inspired many people and by playing the part she helped to open doors for many of today’s actors.
It was small conversation for man, and one giant leap for mankind.
