HarperCollins | 978-0063073210

Growing up, I was never obsessed with Star Trek the way some people were, but I watched the show from time to time, and knew who the characters were.

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago when I first learned about To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights! Written by Angela Dalton and illustrated by Lauren Semmer, To Boldly Go is about the actress who, among other roles, played Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek.

When the show aired in 1963, Nichols was one of the first African American women cast in a television role that was not the stereotypical maid or nanny role for which black woman were generally hired. In fact, she had the opportunity to develop Lieutenant Uhura’s backstory. “Nichelle also helped discover Uhura’s name; it was derived from the word uhuru, which means “freedom” in Swahili.

After a year on the show, Nichols was ready to move on. But then, a fortuitous meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was attending a fund raiser where Nichols was appearing, led her to rethink her decision. Didn’t she realize the role model she was and the impact she was having on black children who watched Star Trek from week to week? That was all the convincing she needed. Nichols remained on the show until the series ended in 1969.  Then, in 1977, she teamed up with NASA to create a film to recruit minority and female personnel for the space shuttle program.

Hers is a fascinating story that author Angela Dalton speaks to in her author’s note:

“Michelle Nichols isn’t just an actress; she is the embodiment of promise and strength for so many people. I hope in reading her story you will be inspired to dream big, believe in the importance of those dreams, and “boldly go” wherever they may take you.”

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Enjoy this Activity Kit to accompany the book.