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Nyota Uhura

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Nyota Uhura
Star Trekcharacter
Nichelle Nicholsas Uhura on the set ofStar Trek: The Original Series
First appearance
Created byGene Roddenberry
Portrayed by
Voiced byNichelle Nichols (The Animated Series)
Celia Rose Gooding ( "Those Old Scientists")
In-universe information
GenderFemale
Title
Occupation
AffiliationUnited Federation of Planets
Starfleet
SignificantotherSpock(reboot films)

Nyota Uhura(/niˈoʊtəʊˈhʊrə/), or simplyUhura,is a fictional character in theStar Trekfranchise. In theoriginal television series,the character was portrayed byNichelle Nichols,who reprised the role for the first sixStar Trekfeature films.A younger Uhura is portrayed byCelia Rose Goodingin the 2022prequelseriesStar Trek: Strange New Worlds,while an alternate timeline version of Uhura has been portrayed by actressZoe Saldañain the feature filmsStar Trek(2009),Star Trek Into Darkness(2013), andStar Trek Beyond(2016).

Uhura is apolyglot,translator andcommunications officerwho specializes inlinguistics,cryptography,andphilology.She was an important part of the original series'multiculturalcrew and one of the firstblackcharacters to be portrayed in a non-menial role on an American television series.

Name

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Gene Roddenberryhad intended his new female communications officer to be called "Lieutenant Sulu".[1]Herb Solowpointed out how similar this was to "Zulu"and thought it might act against the plan for racial diversity in the show, so the nameSuluremained withGeorge Takei's character.[2]"Uhura" comes from theSwahiliworduhuru,meaning "freedom". Nichols states in her 1994 bookBeyond Uhurathat the name was inspired byRobert Ruark's 1962 bookUhuru,which she had with her on the day she read for the part. When producerRobert Justmanexplained to Roddenberry what the worduhurumeant, he changed it to Uhura and adopted that as the character's name.[2]Coincidentally, the end credits of the filmStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Countryincorrectly refer to Uhura as "Uhuru".

Uhura's first name was not used inStar TrekcanonuntilAbrams's 2009 film.The mystery regarding Uhura's first name is the subject of arunning jokein the film, asCaptain Kirkrepeatedly tries to find out what it is, before finally hearingSpockcall her "Nyota" in a moment of intimacy.[3]

Although other non-canon names had previously existed, "Nyota" had been the most common. Two other proposed names were "Penda" and "Samara". TheFASAproducedStar Trek: The Role Playing Game(1982) gave Uhura's first name as "Samara" while the fanzine collectionThe Best of Trek(18 volumes, 1978–1996) suggests that Uhura's first name is "Penda", coined when a group offanzineauthors suggested it to Nichols at an early convention.

AuthorWilliam Rotslercreated the name "Nyota" for his 1982 licensed tie-in book,Star Trek II Biographiespublished by Wanderer (Pocket) Books. Seeking approval for the name he contacted Gene Roddenberry and Nichelle Nichols. Roddenberry approved of the name. Nichols also approved and was very excited when Rotsler informed her that Nyota means "star" in Swahili.[4]After originating inStar Trek II Biographies"Nyota" started appearing inStar Treknovels, such asUhura's Song(1985) byJanet Kagan.While guest-starring on the game showSuper Passwordon January 7, 1987, Nichols stated that Uhura's first name was "Nyota".[5]

Development

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Soon after the first scripts forStar Trekwere being written, Roddenberry spoke of a new character, a female communications officer and introduced Herb Solow and Robert Justman to Nichols, who had worked for him onThe Lieutenant.[1]Although "The Cage"(the first pilot episode ofStar Trek,featuring a female first officer,Number One) was rejected, Roddenberry continued to seek diversity in his casting for the series, including a greater emphasis on racial diversity, with Nichols as Uhura and George Takei as Sulu.[6]Uhura's role of "answering the phone" has been described as gender normative for the era.[7]

Nichols planned to leaveStar Trekin 1967 afterits first season,wanting to return tomusical theater.[8]She changed her mind after talking toMartin Luther King Jr.[9]who was a fan of the show. King explained that her character signified a future of greater racial harmony and cooperation.[10]King told Nichols, "You are our image of where we're going, you're 300 years from now, and that means that's where we are and it takes place now. Keep doing what you're doing, you are our inspiration."[11]As Nichols recounted, "Star Trekwas one of the only shows that [King] and his wifeCorettawould allow their little children to watch. And I thanked him and I told him I was leaving the show. All the smile came off his face. And he said, 'Don't you understand for the first time we're seen as we should be seen. You don't have a black role. You have an equal role.'"[8]

Depiction

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Nichelle Nicholsas Uhura in aStar Trekpromotional image, 1967

Uhura, from the United States of Africa, speaksSwahili[12]and was born on January 19, 2233.[13]James Blish'snon-canonnovels identify her asBantu,as does Gene Roddenberry's novelization ofStar Trek: The Motion Picture.

Uhura first appears in the episode "The Man Trap",joining the crew of theUSSEnterpriseas a lieutenant, and serves as chief communications officer under Captain Kirk. She is depicted as a capable bridge officer and readily assumed control of the helm, navigation and science stations on the bridge when the need arose. Uhura was also a talented singer, and enjoyed serenading her shipmates when off-duty; Spock occasionally accompanied her on the Vulcan lyre "Charlie XandThe Conscience of the King".

In "The Lorelei Signal",a 1973 episode ofStar Trek: The Animated Series,Uhura assumes command of the Enterprise when the male officers fall victim to a species of sirens and leads an all-female rescue party. After the sirens are defeated, the Enterprise crew help the sirens, and Uhura bonds with the sirens, who are happy at the thought that they might meet men and have children.[14]

She is later promoted to lieutenant commander inStar Trek: The Motion Picture,and to full commander inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spocksees Uhura take an assignment in thetransporter roomas part of a plot to steal theEnterprise.After locking a colleague in a closet, Uhura uses the transporter station to beam Kirk,Leonard McCoyandHikaru Suluto theEnterpriseso they can use it to rescueSpockfrom the Genesis Planet. As planned, Uhura later meets up with her crewmates on Vulcan and witnesses Spock's successful renewal.

Uhura has a smaller role in the first, second and third films.Uhura's Song,a novel published in 1985, developed her character further, placing her at the center of the action and introducing Uhura's interest in alien languages. Elements from this novel influenced her depiction in later films and novels.[15]

Following these events and the destruction of theEnterprise,Uhura joins her crewmates on a stolenKlingonship amid a crisis onEarthinStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home.Traveling to the 20th century, they attempt to save a pair ofhumpback whalesin order to repopulate the species. During a trip toSan Francisco,Uhura andPavel Chekovinfiltrate theaircraft carrierUSSEnterpriseand use emissions from the carrier's nuclear reactor to recharge the Klingon vessel's power supply. Kirk and Spock then procure the whales so the crew can return to the 23rd century and save Earth.

In light of their heroics, Starfleet Command exonerates Uhura and the rest of Kirk's crew for their illegal activities. Kirk is demoted to the rank of captain after a prior promotion to admiral, but is assigned to command theUSSEnterprise-A.Uhura joins Kirk's crew, and once again serves as chief communications officer throughout the events ofStar Trek V: The Final FrontierandStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.InThe Final Frontier,a romantic interest between Uhura andMontgomery Scottis briefly implied while Uhura seemingly is under the influence ofSybok,but the subplot is never fully developed in the following movies, leading the viewer to assume that the pair continues as friends.

A hiddenStar Trek: Picardseason 2 Easter egg reveals Nichelle Nichols’ Uhura became a starship captain afterThe Undiscovered Country,[16]where CadetJean-Luc Picardfirst experienced lightspeed travel.

Reboot (Kelvin timeline) films

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Zoe Saldanaas Uhura in the 2009 filmStar Trek.

In the 2009 filmStar Trek,Zoe Saldanaplays a young Uhura who is introduced as a cadet at the academy, but is promoted to a communications officer as the movie unfolds. The film is also notable for officially establishing the character's given name, Nyota. This Uhura is initially cold towards Kirk (and is verbally more than a match for him) after he attempts to flirt with her while intoxicated. However, by the end of film, she comes to respect Kirk as captain of theEnterprise.Although Nichols was not consulted over the character's casting, Saldana personally reached out to Nichols, who in turn helped her prepare for the role.

A former student of Spock's, Uhura is also romantically involved with him. InStar Trek,the ongoing comic book series byIDW Publishing,they are shown going on a date during her studies at the Academy.[17]When Uhura is initially assigned to the USSFarragutin an attempt by Spock to avoid the appearance of favoritism, she demands that he assign her to theEnterprise,arguing she would have been assigned there had they not been involved. She persists in her complaints until Spock relents. Had she remained on theFarragut,she would have been killed, as that vessel is subsequently destroyed by the villain Nero. Uhura quickly receives afield promotiondue to her skill with the Romulan language and remains on the bridge for most of the film.

The 2009 depiction of Nyota Uhura generated much online debate, with some fans praising her portrayal, while other fans (includingKirk/Spockfans) disapproved of her romantic relationship with Spock, or suggested that her expanded role in the film was evidence that she had become a "Mary Sue"character. Other fans suggested that a romance with Spock was hinted inTOS,but could not be followed up on due to racism at the time, and that it would have been impossible at the time to depict Uhura in a romantic relationship.[18]When discussing her response to the 2009 film, Nichelle Nichols confirmed that "there was always a connection between Uhura and Spock" and that the times did not allow for anything more than "hints". Nichols also discussed meeting with Saldana to discuss Uhura, and praised Saldana's portrayal.[19]Theintersectionalityof Uhura as a Black woman was considered important when discussing her romance with Spock, because romances between Black women and white men are largely portrayed as cautionary tales in Hollywood films.[18]

In the first sequel,Star Trek Into Darkness,Uhura has been serving on theEnterprisefor a year and is still romantically involved with Spock. She and Kirk have a good working relationship and share their frustrations with Spock's emotional unavailability (Uhura as his lover, Kirk as his best friend). Uhura is called upon several times to act as a field officer, attempting to use her fluency in Klingon to assist in the hunt for the fugitive John Harrison. She later contacts Spock Prime (at her Spock's request) to consult him over Harrison's identity, and at the climax of the film, helps Spock defeat and capture Harrison after a long chase and fierce hand-to-hand combat. In the second sequel,Star Trek Beyond,her exceptional hearing, first referenced in the 2009 film, reveals the identity of the main antagonist. Spock and Uhura amicably discuss ending their relationship and have some tension over Spock's intention to leaveStarfleetto help the Vulcan survivors, in the wake of the death of Spock Prime. Spock later instead chooses to remain in Starfleet, and begins to renew his relationship with Uhura.

In a 2012 poll conducted bySFX Magazineto find the 100 sexiest female characters in science fiction and fantasy, Uhura, as portrayed by Saldana in the 2009 film, was voted number one.[20]

Strange New Worlds

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InStar Trek: Strange New Worlds,the character is featured as a Cadet serving on theEnterpriseas part of an advanced placement. Played byCelia Rose Gooding.The series reveals Uhura's backstory: she is fromKenyaand her parents, both university professors, and older brother died when she was younger - possibly in an explosion or shuttle crash (STSNW Subspace Rhapsody). At a dinner in Captain Pike's quarters, Uhura admits that she joined Starfleet as a way of honoring her grandmother who was a Starfleet officer that raised her when her parents died, but is unsure about continuing in the service. This draws negative reactions from other members of the crew, including Spock. However, after her exemplary performance on her first away mission, Spock softens his tone and tells her that she will make an excellent officer if she decides to stay. Season 2 she returns to the Enterprise as an Ensign and the Enterprise's communications officer.

Cultural impact

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Role model

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Nichols (pictured) planned to leaveStar Trekin 1967 after its first season, but changed her mind after talking toMartin Luther King Jr.,who explained that her character signified a future of greater racial harmony and cooperation

When Nichols considered quitting the show in the late 1960s, she was told someone wanted to meet her, claiming to be her biggest fan. By her account the fan wasMartin Luther King Jr.,who convinced her not to leave the show by stating: "You cannot do that.... For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen."[21]Nichols decided to stay on the show,[21]explaining her reasons to Roddenberry, who replied "finally, someone gets it."[citation needed]

Whoopi Goldbergdescribes Uhura as an inspiration for her acting career and status as aStar Trek fan.Goldberg later recalled watchingStar Trekas a teenager and telling family members: "I just saw a Black woman on television; and she ain't no maid!"[9][22]Goldberg later playedGuinanonStar Trek: The Next Generation.

NASAemployed Nichols in a campaign to encourage women and African-Americans to join the organization. In 1978NASA Astronaut Group 8yielded the first recruits composed of women and ethnic minorities in the United States. Three were Black (Guion Bluford,Ronald McNairand Dr.Frederick D. Gregory).Mae Jemison,the first Black woman to fly aboard theSpace Shuttle,citedStar Trekas an influence in her decision to join. Jemison herself had a minor role on an episode ofThe Next Generationcalled "Second Chances",playing a transporter operator named Lieutenant Palmer. Jemison was the first of several real-life astronauts to appear onStar Trek.[23][24]

On February 29, 2012, Nichols met withPresident Obamain the White House Oval Office. She later Tweeted about the meeting, "" Months ago Pres Obama was quoted as saying that he'd had a crush on me when he was younger. "Nichols also wrote," I asked about that & he proudly confirmed it! President Obama also confirmed for me that he was definitely a Trekker! How wonderful is that?! "[25]

Interracial kiss

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Main article:Kirk and Uhura's kiss

In the 1968 episode "Plato's Stepchildren",Uhura andCaptain Kirkkiss. For many years this was claimed to be the first example of a scripted inter-racial kiss on United States television, although other examples have come to light.[26][27][28]Originally, the scene was to be filmed both with the kiss, and without it so that the network could later decide to either air the kiss, or exclude it. However, Shatner and Nichols deliberately flubbed every take without the kiss, rendering them useless so that the kiss had to be included.[29]

Reception

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In 2013, Uhura was ranked among the top 50 sexiest characters of the science-fiction genre.[30]They note the character is "a whipsmart wise-ass who can hold her own against the guys" of theEnterprise.[30]

In 2016,Screen Rantrated Uhura as the 16th best character inStar Trekoverall as presented in television and film up to that time, highlighting the character as a "lingual expert who could handle herself on away missions".[31]In 2018,Comic Book Resourcesranked Uhura as the 23rd bestStarfleetcharacter ofStar Trek.[32]In 2018,The Wrapplaced Uhura as 20th out 39 in a ranking of main cast characters of theStar Trekfranchise.[33]

In 2016, Uhura was ranked as the 14th most important character of Starfleet within theStar Trekscience fiction universe byWiredmagazine.[34]

In 2017, Screen Rant ranked Uhura the second most attractive person in theStar Trekuniverse, in betweenBenjamin SiskoandJean-Luc Picard.[35]

In 2017, Comic Book Resources ranked the performance of Mirror Uhura the 14th "fiercest" female character of theStar Trekuniverse.[36]

In 2018, Comic Book Resources ranked Uhura the 23rd best member of Starfleet.[37]

In 2019, Uhura was ranked the fifth sexiestStar Trekcharacter bySyFy.[38]

References

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  1. ^abSolow, Herbert;Robert Justman(June 1997).Inside Star Trek The Real Story.Simon & Schuster.p.153.ISBN0-671-00974-5.
  2. ^abSolow, Herbert;Robert Justman(June 1997).Inside Star Trek The Real Story.Simon & Schuster.p.154.ISBN0-671-00974-5.
  3. ^Weitekamp, Margaret A. (2013)."More than" Just Uhura ": UnderstandingStar Trek's Lt. Uhura, Civil Rights and Space History ".In Reagin, Nancy (ed.).Star Trek and history.New York: Wiley. p. 23.ISBN9781118226346.Retrieved4 December2015.
  4. ^Hise, James Van: "An Interview with Bill Rotsler", Enterprise Issue Number 2, June 1984.
  5. ^YouTube.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-05-28.[dead link]
  6. ^Weitekamp, Margaret A. (2013)."More than" Just Uhura ": Understanding Star Trek's Lt. Uhura, Civil Rights and Space History".In Reagin, Nancy (ed.).Star Trek and history.New York: Wiley. pp. 24–25.ISBN9781118226346.Retrieved4 December2015.
  7. ^Foster, Amy E. (December 2011).Integrating Women into the Astronaut Corps: Politics and Logistics at NASA, 1972–2004.JHU Press.ISBN9781421403946.
  8. ^abDemby, Gene (April 8, 2013)."Zoë Saldaña Climbed Into Lt. Uhura's Chair, Reluctantly".Code Switch (blog).NPR.RetrievedApril 10,2013.
  9. ^abBeck, Donald R. (Director) (1991).Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special.
  10. ^"Nichelle Nichols Explains How Martin Luther King Convinced Her to Stay on Star Trek | Open Culture".
  11. ^Lee Speigel (November 30, 2011)."Gene Roddenberry's Son Reveals Unhappy 'Star Trek' Family Life".Huffington Post.
  12. ^Star Trekepisode: "The Man Trap"
  13. ^Mandel, Geoffrey (1980).USS Enterprise Officer's Manual.New York: Interstellar Associates. p. 27.
  14. ^Greven, David (2009).Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films.Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 216.ISBN9780786454587.Retrieved4 December2015.
  15. ^Weitekamp, Margaret A. (2013)."More than" Just Uhura ": UnderstandingStar Trek's Lt. Uhura, Civil Rights and Space History ".In Reagin, Nancy (ed.).Star Trek and history.New York: Wiley. pp. 31–32.ISBN9781118226346.Retrieved4 December2015.
  16. ^Britt, Ryan (August 2022)."Star Trek Finally Reveals Uhura Became Captain of Her Own Starship".
  17. ^Star Trek: (IDW ongoing)vol. 1, #18 (February 2013)
  18. ^abScodari, Christine (September 2012). ""Nyota Uhura is Not a White Girl": Gender, intersectionality, and Star Trek 2009's alternate romantic universes ".Feminist Media Studies.12(3): 335–351.doi:10.1080/14680777.2011.615605.S2CID146328288.
  19. ^"Nichelle Nichols answers fan questions".startrek. 2010-10-18.Retrieved2015-10-26.
  20. ^Golder, Dave (March 27, 2012)."Top 200 Sexiest Characters In Sci-Fi".SFX Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2015.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
  21. ^abMartin, Michel (17 January 2011)."Star Trek's Uhura Reflects On MLK Encounter".NPR.Retrieved29 March2020.
  22. ^Star Trek Monthlyissue 56.
  23. ^"Social History: Star Trek as a Cultural Phenomenon".centennialofflight.net. September 8, 1966.RetrievedMarch 23,2011.
  24. ^"Second Chances (episode)".Memory Alpha.[unreliable source?]
  25. ^"OBAMA Gives Vulcan Salute".USA TODAY.USA TODAY. April 5, 2012.Retrieved1 February2017.
  26. ^"Shattered TV Taboos: How Bea Arthur and Others Broke Barriers".TVGuide. April 27, 2009.RetrievedMarch 23,2011.
  27. ^"After 40 Years, Star Trek 'Won't Die'".Space. 7 September 2006.RetrievedMarch 23,2011.
  28. ^Christian Höhne Sparborth (September 5, 2001)."Nichols Talks First Inter-Racial Kiss".TrekToday.RetrievedMarch 23,2011.
  29. ^Nichelle Nichols,Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories,G.P. Putnam & Sons New York, 1994. pp. 195–196.
  30. ^abWinning 2013-03-13T14:00:00.71Z, Joshua (13 March 2013)."50 Sexiest Sci-Fi Characters".gamesradar.Retrieved2020-01-21.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^"The 20 Best Characters In Star Trek History".ScreenRant.2016-11-19.Retrieved2019-03-20.
  32. ^"Star Trek: The 25 Best Members Of Starfleet, Ranked".CBR.2018-10-27.Retrieved2019-06-20.
  33. ^"All 39 'Star Trek' Main Characters Ranked".TheWrap.2018-03-21.Retrieved2019-06-22.[verification needed]
  34. ^McMillan, Graeme (2016-09-05)."Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked".Wired.ISSN1059-1028.Retrieved2019-03-20.
  35. ^"Star Trek: 20 Most Attractive Characters".ScreenRant.2017-12-15. Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-16.Retrieved2019-07-12.
  36. ^"Star Trek: The 15 Foxiest Females Of The Final Frontier".CBR.2017-10-01.Retrieved2019-07-12.
  37. ^"Star Trek: The 25 Best Members Of Starfleet, Ranked".CBR.2018-10-27.Retrieved2019-07-19.
  38. ^Fleenor, S. E. (2019-01-31)."Definitively ranking the top 12 sexiest Star Trek characters".SYFY WIRE.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-07-12.Retrieved2019-07-12.

Further reading

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