Star Trek fans know her for the role of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. Actress Nichelle Nichols has died aged 89. She had been a pioneer for black actresses in the United States. Joe Biden paid tribute and hailed him “ the work she has done to open up the field of possibilities for African Americans and women “.
With our correspondent in New York,Loubna Anaki
She had been one of the first black women to have a leading role in a television series. In 1960s America, when Star Trek first aired, Nichelle Nichols quickly became an icon for her role as the communications officer of the USS Enterprise. A black woman, intelligent, occupying a position of responsibility, the image was extremely rare at that time.
And when, during the last episode of the final season, his character and that of Captain Kirk kiss, it is the first kiss between a black person and a white person on American television.
Actress, dancer, singer, Nichelle Nichols is also and above all an icon of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King he himself said he had a lot of admiration for her.
Today, the tributes follow one another. Actor William Shatner who played Captain Kirk hails a terrific actress who ” helped reshape social issues in the United States and beyond “.