As most of you know, I have a slight appreciation for Star Trek.

AHEM

Okay, no one believed that for a second. Other than furry, Star Trek is my biggest passion. I've been watching the shows since I was 5, and back in my day puts on old person glasses there were only TWO trek series. I didn't know how television worked back then. I didn't know that shows could be cancelled, that they had things they had to do to get to air, I just turned on the television and every week there'd be an episode of the stalwart crew of the Enterprise D.

Now I as a child did not know about spinoffs, but my parents introduced me to Star Trek: The Original Series, and like TNG I fell in love with it. I never knew back then that it was odd for the time to have Nichelle and George on the cast, nor did I know what a struggle it was for black people to be accepted in 1967. I did not know how much of an impact she had on the real life space program, and if you don't, I suggest you find out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir8YhnEjab4

One of her favorite stories to tell about her time on Star Trek was right at the end of the first season, when she considered leaving the series. But fate, or more accurately, Doctor Martin Luther King Jr, intervened. She tells the story far more eloquently than I ever could, so allow me to share with you her story.

https://youtu.be/pSq_UIuxba8

I had the opportunity to meet her once at my first Star Trek convention in 2018. Alas it was only a brief expression of my appreciation for her work, but still, I value the opportunity.

She quite literally changed the world, and she will be missed.