The Legacy of Uhura

Don't like Star Trek, but love Uhura
She never left us in a furor
Almost quit show
MLK let her know
Blacks tuned in to see her for Shura

Uhura made history with "The Kiss"
Show execs were highly pissed
Censors watched in horror
Backed into a corner
Lucky Star Trek wasn't dismissed

Before Nichelle’s ground-breaking role
Sang in big bands; truth be told
Performed with Duke Ellington
And Lionel Hampton
Our girl wasn’t a one-trick soul

Nichelle’s character was a game-change
Showed Blacks really had range
No typecast played
Our queen was no maid
And nothing about it looked strange

Uhura influenced career plans
Such as astronaut Mae Jemison
Star Trek gave Mae feeling
She could break the ceiling
Upon Nichelle’s shoulders she stands