Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here. 
Today, I’m celebrating that I’ve almost made it through the A to Z Challenge! Only five more days to go after today. I haven’t been able to do as much visiting of other blogs as I’d hoped, but I plan to make the rounds after the Challenge. A to Z Road Trip!
Moving on to A to Z —
U is for — Lt. Uhura from Star Trek
Imagine America in the 1960s, torn by racial tension and violence. In the midst of it all, the creators of Star Trek did the unthinkable. They cast a black woman in an important role, equal to her white male counterparts on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
Lieutenant Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols, was chief communications officer aboard the Enterprise, but her skills didn’t end there. She also took over the duties of helmsman, navigation, and science officer when necessary. Her competence in these areas was relied upon without any doubt. No one ever questioned her abilities.
The original series episode, Who Mourns for Adonais?, revealed another of Uhura’s skills — she rewired the entire communication system of the space shuttle to restore contact with the Enterprise. Very delicate work, in her words. Mr. Spock replies that he “can think of no one better equipped to handle it.”
Uhura rose to the rank of full commander in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and continued to be a vital member of Captain Kirk’s crew in subsequent movies. She became a Star Trek icon, a role model for an oppressed African-American nation. According to Nichols, when she was going to leave the show after the first season, Martin Luther King, Jr., told her how important she was as a role model and inspiration to the African-American community and encouraged her to reconsider. Because of this, she stayed.
Later, she campaigned for NASA in their effort to recruit more women and African-Americans to join. I read that Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel in space (aboard the shuttle Endeavor), credited Star Trek as an influence in her decision to become an astronaut.
Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Nyota Uhura
Photo Credit: http://thevalkyriedirective.tumblr.com
From the episode Who Mourns for Adonais? Photo Credit: http://thevalkyriedirective.tumblr.com
What other celebrations are going on out there?
© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2015. All rights reserved.
Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams 
YES! What a great choice for “U”; love it and Star Trek. I came over here for the A to Z Challenge and to see what you were up too! I’m talking about visiting blogs for my “V” post and yours will be listed so give me a check back tomorrow. Congrats on making it to U!!!
http://www.heathermccubbin.blogspot.com
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Thank you, Heather! I’ll be over to check out your post, and I’ll be back again after the Challenge to catch up on the earlier posts I missed. Congrats to you, too!
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Uhura was definitely ground-breaking – for being a super-competent woman never mind her ethnicity.
I too am celebrating nearing the end of the A to Z – 21 down, 5 to go. We can do it!
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Yes, it was a refreshing change.
The end of A to Z is in sight!
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Great post. When Leonard Nimoy passed away several weeks ago, all of us Trekkies practically stopped the work we were doing. And just discussed about all our favorite Star Trek episodes, giving each other “live long and prosper” signs and our favorite characters. Of course Lt. Uhura was the most favored.
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Nimoy’s passing was sad. Uhura was an excellent character, and Nichelle Nichols played her well.
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Great “U!”
And Great celebrations too! I can’t believe that we’re so glose to the end of A to Z!! It’s been so much fun 🙂
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Thank you! I’ll be over to visit soon.
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I’m with Heather on this, great U choice! I’m happy that today is Friday. Woohoo!
🙂 Happy Friday to you!
Elizabeth Mueller
AtoZ 2015
My Little Pony
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Thanks! Happy Friday, most definitely! Have a great weekend!
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Star Trek always pushed the boundaries. Glad she stuck with the show.
I’ve had no time to visit new blogs, so I also look forward to the road trip.
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It will be nice to visit new people without the pressure of having to write and post every day, too.
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She was one of my favorite characters. I like the character in the new show too.
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I haven’t seen the new movies with Zoe Saldana as Uhura, but they are on my to-be-watched list.
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I hardly remember her from the show. But I think that’s because I didn’t watch too much of Kirk’s Star Trek.
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I grew up with the original series, so that’s always been my favorite.
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Uhura’s character shall have a permanent place on the list of “Things Star Trek Did Right”.
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Yes, I agree!
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I’ve never really been a fan of Star Trek, but great post nonetheless.
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Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
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She’s so pretty! And yes, like you I’m glad the end of the A-Z is coming. And I didn’t visit enough blogs either…
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There just weren’t enough hours in the day. I’ll be around in May to read what I missed. 🙂
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So glad you used Lt. Uhura from Star Trek. I wondered if anyone would!!
I might do the road trip too. So many people I’ve missed – including those on Celebrate!!
Have a really fun weekend (smile).
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Road trips are fun, though I think this one will take many, many days. Hope you enjoy your weekend, too!
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I’m a big Star Trek fan! I loved the series’s messages of morality and tolerance. It’s nice to think that in the distant future we’d all get along and be intelligent and peaceful like on Star Trek. (Though I did find the micro-mini skirts in bad taste.)
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I wasn’t a fan of the mini skirts, either, but I read where Nichelle Nichols said she didn’t think anything about them, that it was “the era of mini skirts” and everyone was wearing them.
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I’m celebrating reaching the end of the A to Z as well. I only have 1 more post to compose, and then I’m done! I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Katie @TheCyborgMom
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Thanks! It sounds like you’re ahead of the game! Three days left!
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A to Z Road Trip for me, too! You’re up first, Lori. 😉 I just finished writing all my posts!
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Wow, good for you getting all your posts done! I haven’t been able to get ahead this time around, but so far I’ve managed to keep up. I’ll be over soon to catch up with the rest of your posts! 🙂
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