Film and television actress Nichelle Nichols was born on December 28, 1932 in Robbins, Illinois, near Chicago. As a child, Nichols' family moved to Chicago where she studied dance at the Chicago Ballet. In 1966, Nichols was cast as Lieutenant Commander Uhura in Star Trek, marking one of the first times that an African American actress was portrayed in a non-stereotypical role. Nichols went on to appear as Lieutenant Commander Uhura in the Star Trek movie and television series. In 1975, she established Women in Motion, Inc., a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).astronaut recruitment project. In addition to her autobiography Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories, Nichols co-authored Saturn's Child. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992. In 2010, she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Los Angeles Mission College.
Alternative title
History Makers video oral history with Nichelle Nichols