Your daily reminder that Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols tried their hardest to imply Spock/Uhura despite the Hayes code not allowing interracial relationships, that Gene Roddenberry would've explored their relationship more if TOS had gotten a 4th season, and that Nichelle Nichols wrote a short story (with input from Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath) for New Voyages II where Spock, Uhura, and Kirk openly-flirt with each other, Uhura kisses Spock, and implies that Spock and Kirk are sharing a bed at the end.
Here's some behind-the-scenes context + Nichelle Nichols thoughts on Spock/Uhura in both TOS and AOS.
The interracial kiss was originally going to be Spock/Uhura, but it was later given to Kirk so that tv networks couldn't use Spock being "half alien" to water down the message.
For the record, Leonard Nimoy adored Spock/Uhura's relationship in AOS. He gave Zachary Quinto indight into Spock's character and was "extremely jealous" of Quinto's role after seeing Spuhura on the big screen.
The main problem I have with AOS Uhura is that she became a teacher pet and love interest instead of a good friend and independent talent.
Ooh boy…
First off, she’s not a teacher’s pet. She’s a linguistics genius who worked her way through the Academy (even becoming a teaching aide).
Second, what’s so bad about her being a love interest? She never had a romance plot in the original show, and now she’s got one it’s a bad thing? As another fan has stated, Uhura being single is not empowering. And I should add that Spock is her love interest.
Thirdly, she *is* a good friend, who sympathized with Kirk after Pike’s death in ‘Into Darkness’, who interacts with her fellow crew members (in films, novels and comics). In the comics, she confides in Kirk regarding Spock’s self-harming/self-destructive behaviour.
Lastly, what you mean by “independant talent” is “not tied down by a romance plot”…which brings me back to my first point. For Uhura, a Black woman, being single is not empowering.
The point of this post flew right over your head, didn’t it?
@the-fandom-vent what’s the deal with digging up a historic post?
Audience had perspectives and grew up, deal with my old comments as harsh as u like, my opinions formed with context that i don’t recall completely today.
All i can say today - I still strongly dislike teacher/student relationship with romantic development formed under high stressed combat environment n Spock’s severely traumatized state, even when they are no longer teacher/student, power imbalance still exists when Spock is XO. AOS Uhura deserves better story arc n anchor, she is talented n attractive and I don’t want to see her positioned as Spock’s girlfriend to prove it.
To any unknown netizens replying my random old posts, sorry that u feel the need to defend your beloved characters or relationships, i hope that u will find something beautiful n let go of the random old negative thoughts on internet.
I don’t have the energy to review my adolescence stuff n delete things that do not fit my current views, this is my final output regarding my old posts, if u don’t like my comment, please feel free to block me.
Okay? This blog is fairly new. I created it to respond to and vent about fandom discourse. And yes, I realize the post is old.
Taking this out of the tags because I'm moody, and I keep seeing the same old tropes even now.
AOS Uhura is not reduced, and fandom needs to be less misogynoiristic towards her. Seriously.
a moment of silence for poor Nichelle Nichols and how her opinions about Uhura are constantly ignored by those who think that by hating on reboot Uhura they’re speaking on Nichelle Nichols’ behalf.
The fandom thinks it knows best when it comes to Uhura, but no-one knows/knew the character better than she did.
It’s almost as if her voice didn’t matter. Just like in the 60s.
Even now, the fandom continues to pull this same stunt, while proclaiming to be more feminist than the reboots. If fans are so damn feminist, why don't they actually listen to or even acknowledge the input of the woman who originally portrayed Uhura? A character whom they claim to love so much, but despise the reboot iteration; whom Nichelle actually approved of:
“While they were shooting, J.J. Abrams invited me to lunch and invited me to come to the set. I was so excited. The surprise he had going was that the young woman playing Uhura [Zoe Saldana] didn’t know I was coming. She just gasped.
As J.J. had planned it, she didn’t have to shoot, so we sat for two hours and talked, and it was as though I had known her all her life. I was so honored. I thought I was seeing myself — I knew I was in good hands. She just picked my brain.
When I see her come on, that’s me and I’m living it. A little ways into the movie, I realized she had taken to heart what I said and became more reserved and tighter. I’m so proud of her. She took a role that was established and gave it life.
Now I know who I was before I got on that ship for that first mission. It’s so exciting for me and rewarding. J.J. and she did me honor.”
—— Nichelle Nichols for the Iowa Gazette
The JJ Abrams Star Trek movie trilogy (Star Trek 2009, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond)
Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline Trilogy (Film, 2009/2013/2016)
Explain your reasoning in the reblogs!
Nuance time.
The first two films do not like women. Their main plot points include dating a man and just looking sexy. This was fixed by Beyond, which was written by a Trek fan (thank you Simon Pegg). Our girl Uhura's plotline prioritized on her actually getting shit done. They also had an original female character, Jaylah, who didn't get with a man or get hypersexualized.
Basically, only Star Trek Beyond likes women.
Uhura does a lot more than you think. Also, with her being a Black woman, being a love interest is good actually. Just sayin'.
If you think that AOS Uhura is reduced, then clearly you need to learn the difference between white feminism and Black feminism.
It seems clear that portions of the Star Trek fandom have a very tokenistic idea of what Uhura "should be", and that's TOS Uhura. While she was indeed progressive for the time, she was still held back by the racism that was still very rampant. Nichelle Nichols did all she could, but she nearly quit due to all of it; she could not speak up due to her being a Black woman.
And that's what the fandom doesn't realize; they hate AOS Uhura because she has the self-importance to stand tall and speak up for herself, defend herself, advocate for herself, as well as situations and behaviours that affect her fellow officers.
And she does all this with her own voice; something Nichelle could not do.
But apparently, that makes her a "bitch" and "mean" and "naggy". When a Black woman speaks up, you better fucking listen. And for AOS Uhura, she's listened to. Because she matters.
Fandom seems to forget that.
And fandom loves forcing white feminism onto her...even though she's not white. As if white feminism was the default, and benefiticial for everyone. Well, it's not, and fandom had better get educated on the difference.
The JJ Abrams Star Trek movie trilogy (Star Trek 2009, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond)
Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline Trilogy (Film, 2009/2013/2016)
Explain your reasoning in the reblogs!
Nuance time.
The first two films do not like women. Their main plot points include dating a man and just looking sexy. This was fixed by Beyond, which was written by a Trek fan (thank you Simon Pegg). Our girl Uhura's plotline prioritized on her actually getting shit done. They also had an original female character, Jaylah, who didn't get with a man or get hypersexualized.
Basically, only Star Trek Beyond likes women.
Uhura does a lot more than you think. Also, with her being a Black woman, being a love interest is good actually. Just sayin'.
“The state came to massacre, it wasn’t a [police] operation. They came directly to kill, to take lives,” one woman in Penha Complex told the AFP news agency.
“There are people who have been executed, many of them shot in the back of the head, shot in the back. This cannot be considered public safety,” said 36-year-old resident and activist Raul Santiago.
Brazil’s Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is “horrified” by the scale of fatalities and surprised that such an operation went ahead without prior knowledge of the federal government.
Adding my own previous tags:
I’d sincerely appreciate it if non-Brazilians reblogged this. Media outlets all over the world (and especially in my homeland) will try to sweep this under the rug but the horror has spread nationwide. We call it chacina for a reason.
It would be of great help if other countries and their citizens held Brazilian politicians/figures of authority accountable. Or, at least, acknowledge very publicly that there's an ongoing effort by the Brazilian police force to exterminate black and brown people, especially in Rio.
here is a user imdb review in snw. this is in quote you can read them on imdb own website
''Hey,
My 2nd review on this show, I really effn like it. The barr is high, but showrunners and writers really hit the bullseye - for me anyway - not a TOS fan but loved TNG, DS9, VOYAGER and....the computer games.
Writers really have made a lot of effort and I see it, and I enjoy the show 95% every single episode. It wont satisfy everyone. It wont appeal to everyone trying Trek for 1st time but I still think its a great show with a great cast....bar one.
The major gripe I have is how ugly and fat and hideous young Uhura is. This show had so much effort into it and the characters are fleshed out, have agency...but then u have such an ugly fat hideous Uhura choice. I just dont get why the show runners did this. The entire cast is brilliant. DR, nurse, Captain, XO, Engineer + Carol Cane....all brilliant cast...adn then boom, a fat ugly hideous Uhura for some incredible weird reason.... OK, i guess showrunners want to appeal to the really ugly crowd to get them onboard but wow....choosing such an ugly hideous woman to play Uhura defies belief in my appreciation of the show.
Apart from ugly Uhura, the show is brilliant, u can see its written by big fans and intelligent people...but Ugly Uhura really destroys my appreciation of the show..''
end quote
so if tumblr fans are racist ..are imdb fans that actually write reviews.
many reviews of snw call out the bad casting of uhura. so are they all racist and sexist and colourist?
if you want to truly represent us people of color please stop playing dumb.
its like the fat statue of a black woman they put out in new york time square in june 2025. I am happy black people called out that shit and said this is not a great take of black women.
but let me guess, people like you will defend it, in the name of diversity and not to hurt feelings.
why is media currently putting image of obese, homely, asexual and masculine black girls and why do people like you defend it in the name of not wanting to hurt feelings
the racism is bad but it is a whole lot worse when black people go into self denial as you do.
when next you talk of SNW Uhura, please I beg you say the truth that Gooding was miscast in the role, it will help a whole lot. the show has had 3 seasons so it is now safe to say the obvious.
I have no issue saying she is miscast because I know there are far superior actress to Gooding that would have been right for the role and yes many are dark skin.
SNW is ruining uhura's legacy, please stop playing dump and speak truth to power.
I'M SO TIRED OF THE UHURA HATERS ON THIS SUNDOWN TOWN ASS WEBSITE. HERE LEARN SOMETHING LIKE HOW TO SPELL.
AND WHAT'S MORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS IS A DISGRACE TO DS9
mod ali
Another long shitpiece to pick apart bit by bit...
"The major gripe I have is how ugly and fat and hideous young Uhura is. This show had so much effort into it and the characters are fleshed out, have agency...but then u have such an ugly fat hideous Uhura choice. I just dont get why the show runners did this. The entire cast is brilliant. DR, nurse, Captain, XO, Engineer + Carol Cane....all brilliant cast...adn then boom, a fat ugly hideous Uhura for some incredible weird reason.... OK, i guess showrunners want to appeal to the really ugly crowd to get them onboard but wow....choosing such an ugly hideous woman to play Uhura defies belief in my appreciation of the show."
HOW THE FUCK IS SNW UHURA "FAT" AND HIDEOUS"??? CELIA IS FUCKING CURVY, YOU FUCKING TWAT. LIKE TOS UHURA (MUCH MORE SO, ACTUALLY).
I MEAN, LOOK AT HER/THEM:
THE CURVES, THE SWAY...HOW THE FUCK DO YOU SEE THAT AS "UGLY"?
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE WITH THAT BULLSHIT!
[image from @defconprime , link below]
Here's another image of her, from the latest season. I still don't understand how ANYONE can look at her at say "ugly" or "fat". Get a fucking life.
I neither go here (Star Trek), nor am I black, but like. Celia has my body type. It's a normal ass, *healthy* body type. Even if we *don't* get into discussions about what it actually means to have a healthy body and that fat =/= unhealthy, like... there's no argument that can be made for it?
Sorry, I am having Feelings because long term ED and I'm having the "She looks like me!" reaction so someone w broad shoulders and curves, alongside the ahm *feelings* about how that anon clearly sees bodies like mine and Celia's.
There's an black African (unsure of specific ethnicity) woman at my workplace who also has a very similar body type. It's a very normal, very *real* body type; and like you said, people see themselves in the character. Like people have always seen themselves in Uhura.
Not only that, the "feelings" these users have is practically misogynoir at this point. So, I hope they choke on their words.
here is a user imdb review in snw. this is in quote you can read them on imdb own website
''Hey,
My 2nd review on this show, I really effn like it. The barr is high, but showrunners and writers really hit the bullseye - for me anyway - not a TOS fan but loved TNG, DS9, VOYAGER and....the computer games.
Writers really have made a lot of effort and I see it, and I enjoy the show 95% every single episode. It wont satisfy everyone. It wont appeal to everyone trying Trek for 1st time but I still think its a great show with a great cast....bar one.
The major gripe I have is how ugly and fat and hideous young Uhura is. This show had so much effort into it and the characters are fleshed out, have agency...but then u have such an ugly fat hideous Uhura choice. I just dont get why the show runners did this. The entire cast is brilliant. DR, nurse, Captain, XO, Engineer + Carol Cane....all brilliant cast...adn then boom, a fat ugly hideous Uhura for some incredible weird reason.... OK, i guess showrunners want to appeal to the really ugly crowd to get them onboard but wow....choosing such an ugly hideous woman to play Uhura defies belief in my appreciation of the show.
Apart from ugly Uhura, the show is brilliant, u can see its written by big fans and intelligent people...but Ugly Uhura really destroys my appreciation of the show..''
end quote
so if tumblr fans are racist ..are imdb fans that actually write reviews.
many reviews of snw call out the bad casting of uhura. so are they all racist and sexist and colourist?
if you want to truly represent us people of color please stop playing dumb.
its like the fat statue of a black woman they put out in new york time square in june 2025. I am happy black people called out that shit and said this is not a great take of black women.
but let me guess, people like you will defend it, in the name of diversity and not to hurt feelings.
why is media currently putting image of obese, homely, asexual and masculine black girls and why do people like you defend it in the name of not wanting to hurt feelings
the racism is bad but it is a whole lot worse when black people go into self denial as you do.
when next you talk of SNW Uhura, please I beg you say the truth that Gooding was miscast in the role, it will help a whole lot. the show has had 3 seasons so it is now safe to say the obvious.
I have no issue saying she is miscast because I know there are far superior actress to Gooding that would have been right for the role and yes many are dark skin.
SNW is ruining uhura's legacy, please stop playing dump and speak truth to power.
I'M SO TIRED OF THE UHURA HATERS ON THIS SUNDOWN TOWN ASS WEBSITE. HERE LEARN SOMETHING LIKE HOW TO SPELL.
AND WHAT'S MORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS IS A DISGRACE TO DS9
mod ali
Another long shitpiece to pick apart bit by bit...
"The major gripe I have is how ugly and fat and hideous young Uhura is. This show had so much effort into it and the characters are fleshed out, have agency...but then u have such an ugly fat hideous Uhura choice. I just dont get why the show runners did this. The entire cast is brilliant. DR, nurse, Captain, XO, Engineer + Carol Cane....all brilliant cast...adn then boom, a fat ugly hideous Uhura for some incredible weird reason.... OK, i guess showrunners want to appeal to the really ugly crowd to get them onboard but wow....choosing such an ugly hideous woman to play Uhura defies belief in my appreciation of the show."
HOW THE FUCK IS SNW UHURA "FAT" AND HIDEOUS"??? CELIA IS FUCKING CURVY, YOU FUCKING TWAT. LIKE TOS UHURA (MUCH MORE SO, ACTUALLY).
I MEAN, LOOK AT HER/THEM:
THE CURVES, THE SWAY...HOW THE FUCK DO YOU SEE THAT AS "UGLY"?
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE WITH THAT BULLSHIT!
you can argue with fans about how wrong and ''racist'' we are for saying celia gooding is miscast
but when critics and even A.I research is saying Uhura is just a background character on the show, you need to start admitting facts
poor casting = little screen time and little story lines
this is SNW Uhura and this is the objective truth
if ploygon a legit sci fi website are saying Uhura does nothing on the show then you need to take that seriously and stop saying Tumblr fans are racist.
it is not just tumblr fans anymore, it is now TV Critics that either call out how little uhura is used and some do not even mention her in their reviews and that means the character is forgettable and that also means the casting is poor
the lack of popularity and attention snw uhura gets is because they did not hire the best actress for the role. these are the facts.
POC fans need to stop playing dumb. hollywood would cast their best white actors to play roles but mediocre black actors to play roles so the white actors will not get outshined and poc fans will pretend they do not see what is going on.
Sorry as a POC Fan I am not going to accept mediocre black actors getting roles they should not get for the sake of diversity or to spare the actor’s feelings. This is art and in art we go by objective metrics not emotional metics.
No one hates Celia Gooding, we just think she is a wrong fit on the role. 80% of uhura fans and even s/u fans say it.
You are hurting SNW Uhura by still pretending Celia Gooding is equal to Nichelle nichols. if gooding was equal to nichelle than Gooding will be getting the same attention as Nichols got in TOS and she is not in SNW. Again this are facts.
Gooding Uhura is even way too young for the role. this is how much the writers of the show went out of the way to down play uhura, yet fans like you keep on making excuses, calling everyone racist and sexist. when everyone can see the truth.
it is ridiculous at this point.
Ethan Peck’s Spock has been in 3 romantic story lines in SNW and this is because Peck is handsome and has sex appeal, by Hollywood standard he is the perfect romantic lead, so snw spock gets those story lines.
If they have found a truly objectively very beautiful and attractive black actress who had sex appeal to play SNW Uhura, believe me the narrative would be different for the character.
Expecting SNW Uhura to get any real attention or real focus is like watching gone with the wind and expecting the mammy character to get more focus than scarlet o’hara.
But please keep denying the truth about Hollywood TV and callings us racist, sexist and misogynist when we are just spitting facts
I predict snw uhura will fade more in season 4, writers are not going to focus on characters who are not popular or who are the ugliest in the group.
jess bush and ethan peck get all the focus because they are pretty people and preety people get more story line that is how tv works.
we need pretty black actors to match the pretty white actors.
this may be shallow to say, but it is the naked truth.
a hot and sexy black actress like Nicole Fiscella should have played uhura and she is dark skin, so do not give me that crap that we hate gooding beause she is dark skin or we are colorist. there are many sexy dark skin actress, Gooding is not one.
I THANK YOU UHURAHERMIONE OR WHATEVER THE FUCK YOUR NAME IS NOWADAYS. I'VE BEEN VERY DEPRESSED BY THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND COULDN'T EVEN FORCE MYSELF TO PAY ATTENTION TO TUMBLR. MY ACCOUNTS HAVE FINISHED THEIR QUEUES AND I'M WORRYING ABOUT HOW I'M GONNA BUY GROCERIES WITHOUT SNAP.
BUT YOU REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING. SHITTY PPL LIKE YOU WILL ALWAYS EXIST. AND YES YOU MAY EVEN BE WINNING BECAUSE YOU SUPPORT TRUMP AND HIS MAGA WHITE SUPREMACISTS.
BUT I WILL NEVER BEND THE KNEE TO YOU. I WILL CONTINUE MAKING MY UHURA FANWORKS. I WILL CONTINUE CELEBRATING CELIA ROSE GOODING AND THEIR BEAUTY. YOU CAN'T STOP ME BECAUSE EVEN A FLAWED SHOW LIKE SNW DID SOMETHING RIGHT IN CASTING CELIA. THEY CAST CELIA BECAUSE CELIA IS FLAWLESS. AND YOU???
YOU'RE JUST SOME LITTLE CRETIN ON THE INTERNET THAT HIDES BEHIND ANON.
MOD ALI
I haven't read this whole thing yet, but let me pull out this statement:
"No one hates Celia Gooding, we just think she is a wrong fit on the role. 80% of uhura fans and even s/u fans say it."
WRONG. Where the fuck do you get 80% from? Because every S/U and Uhura fan I share discourse with say the complete opposite of that. Stop pulling shit out of your arse.
Fandom is weird about black characters. Fandom is really weird about black female characters. Fandom is concerningly weird about black female characters being in in-show ships. Fandom is profoundly and concerningly weird about black female characters being in in-show ships with (non-black) men. And fandom gets disgusting about black female characters being in in-show ships with non-black men who have a guy friend.
Reboot Uhura comes to mind. The Star Trek fandom is so weird about her.
It’s a crime that I haven’t drawn this cinnamon roll yet
what’s a crime is his skin color here wtf… is this a joke?? like… you’re not even close???? did you even try at all?? have you… actually SEEN him before??
y'all im bout to fucking scream
3.3k notes…
@fandomshatepeopleofcolor Here's one for you (unless you've already seen it as it's an old post).
Gross whitewashing.