Haha.. that Ferris. ;D

Really? He did? How?

Dunno about you but if MLK asked me to do something I just couldn't bring myself to say no

Yeah.

Nichelle Nichols was feeling unappreciated because she wasn't getting fan mail and even Walter Koenig was. She believed she wasn't making a difference, so she told Gene Roddenberry he wasn't going to renew her contract for next year. Well later that day, she attended a rally where MLK was appearing. She was waiting for the show to start when one of the staff came and asked her to sign an autograph for a big fan. She went backstage with the staffer and there was MLK himself! He told her he was proud of the symbolism that she represented of how the future could be just by playing Lt. Uhura. She told Dr King that she wasn't getting attention and was planning on quitting the show. "You will not!" cried Dr King and he gave her the $50 lecture on just how important Lt. Uhura was an why she mustn't give up! So next day she went back to Roddenberry, told him about her encounter with MLK and asked to stay on the cast after all. He kept her on of course. Then he asked her why she'd wanted to quit and he told him about being discouraged by the complete lack of fan mail. He called Paramount's mail department and asked about Nichols's mail and the answer didn't even make sense. So they went to the mail room. She had bags of mail waiting; Paramount had ordered them to hold all her mail, they didn't like there being a n****r in the cast!

Wow. I'd never heard that story before.

I have heard that one before. I'm really glad she stayed on. Dr. King was an awesome man. Nice tribute!

Ms Nicholls tells it often, I think she's proud of having met MLK. (understandably)

BTW, Paramount learned their lesson shortly after. I understand that The Great Bird had a wicked-sharp tongue when he was upset!

according to her anecdote she had met Dr King and he has convinced her not to quit for she was being a role model for Negros in the industry at the time. rather inspirational i'd say

--Rick