NYOTA UHURA

b. 1966

USS Enterprise

Communications Officer, Starfleet

Nyota Uhuru, played by Nichelle Nichols, was a Starfleet communications officer on the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A in Star Trek: The Original Series. As a translator, she specialized in linguistics and cryptography. Uhuru was the first Black woman on television not to have a minor role, influencing generations to come. Most notable, Dr. Mae Jemison - the first Black woman in space.