Uhura's character on Star Trek: Tos broke barriers for women of color in television, despite lack of first name until 2009. The name Nyota, meaning freedom in Swahili, was adopted for Uhura before it was officially used on screen in 2009 by J.J. Abrams. Modern Star Trek adaptations have developed Uhura into a more complex and complete character with added depth and heroic qualities.

Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura broke barriers on Star Trek: The Original Series, paving the way for women of color on television, but the iconic character did not officially receive a first name until 2009. As the Communications officer on the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Uhura was too often reduced to declaring that hailing frequencies were open. Still, she was a young Black woman on the bridge of a starship, which was a major breakthrough in the 1960s. While most of the...