I actually think Roddenberry preferred the more thoughtful, introspective
captain to the man-of-action lover of Kirk. Remember that Jeffrey Hunter--he of
the steely gaze and intense but controlled emotions--was his first choice for
ship's captain. Hunter had a more tightly controlled manner to him than the
Kirk that emerged by series' end (though it's worth noting that Kirk in the
first season also was more controlled than he became later)
And note that Patrick Stewart's controlled, intellectual Picard was his next
choice. Roddenberry has said that with Picard he finally got the captain he'd
always envisioned. He liked Kirk--a lot. But Gene's feeling was always that
humanity would be more sophisticated, a bit less driven by base emotions in the
future. So while he needed a man of action, he felt it would be a man who took
action after some thought. That's why he wanted a "Continental" man like
Picard. Gene liked the European image, the idea of a captain that loves
classical music, reads Greek, is a trained archeologist, and more of a diplomat
than a straight-out soldier. Picard reflects Gene's view of the future man more
than the action-oriented, womanizing Kirk.
Remember the early season or two of TNG? Picard was always calling "conference"
in the middle of a crisis, then going off to meet with his staff. There was the
show where a race of master strategists staged a mock battle between Picard and
a beatup ship commanded by Riker. Picard protested the whole affair at first
saying "Starfleet is an exploratory organization, not a military one". That
illogical statement reflected Roddenberry's belief that humanity in the future
will be more sophisticated, less warlike, less controlled by all emotions.
----- Original Message -----
From: wlro...@aol.com
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 1:03:41 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
I have never heard of that story and not saying that it is not true. Makes me
wonder did or was Kirk character was model after him in some way?
--Lavender
From: Keith Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:42 AM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
Yeah, Roddenberry was dating Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett at the same
time. Indeed, Nichols related that Roddenberry used to take her riding on his
motorcycle. One day he said, "I need you to meet someone". They drove to a
house, Gene walks up and knocks on the door, and Majel answers. Gene introduces
the ladies, and Nichols says she realized at that moment he was not only
two-timing her, but was going to marry Barrett. (Actually, he may have been
three-timing her. He had a previous wife of nearly three decades whom he
divorced sometime during this period, so he may have started affairs with
Nichols and Barrett while still being married. Not sure).
A sad final chapter in this strange tale. Evidently Roddenberry's last years
were marked by increasingly ill health. not sure what he had, but it's why he
had to relinguish creative control of The Next Generation. At any rate, in
those final years, Gene had some mental difficulties. At a big party given in
his honor---a party in which most of the OS Trek alumni and showrunners were in
attendance--Gene appears in a highly agitated and confused state. In front of
all the guests--including his wife Majel--Roddenberry walks over to Nichele
Nichols and confesses his undying love for her. "You're the one I really loved,
Nichelle! I should have married you, Nichelle!" he exclaimed.
Nichols had to keep her composure and tell the crowd that Gene was just ill and
didn't know what he said.
I've read this account more than once. Hope it's not just an urban legend.
Don't know if it was recorded in Nichols' official autobiography.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Baxter" <truthseeker...@lycos.com>
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 8:27:40 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
None whatsoever. Roddenberry recognized it by putting her right behind
KEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOK on the Bridge, so that she (or at least *parts*) of her
made it in shot. And, if the tales I've heard are true, Roddenberry did *more*
than just "recognize" her beauty... he *appreciated* it in a way *all* men wish
they could've.
---------[ Received Mail Content ]----------
Subject : Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
Date : Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:06:29 +0000
>From : mcjennings...@yahoo.com
To : "SciFi2" <scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com>
No chauvinism in recognizing beauty. I was flipping channels (a chore without a
remote), and I saw her at that console. I was just back from 18 months in the
Philippines, and I was appreciating Black Women. And here is Uhura. Lawd!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
-----Original Message-----
From: "C.W. Badie"
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:51:39
To:
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
....And consistently the most beautiful babe on the show...pardon the
chauvinism, but she was gorgeous!
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Adrianne Brennan wrote:
From: Adrianne Brennan
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: The Disposible Negro in sci-fi list
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:26 PM
I dunno, I've always thought Uhura kicked ass. :D
~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adrianne brennan.com
Experience the magic of Blood of the Dark Moon: http://www.adrianne
brennan.com/ botdm.html
Take a bite out of Blood and Mint Chocolates: http://www.adrianne brennan.com/
bamc.html
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: http://www.adrianne
brennan.com/ books.html# the_oath
On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 1:22 PM, ravenadal wrote:
Beware of the "Disposable Negro Effect" which is akin to the "butterfly
effect." You may think a negro is disposable but then you remove them and all
heck breaks loose. I mean haven't you seen Douglass Turner Ward's "Day of
Absence" where all the negroes disappear one day and all the white folks don't
have a clue as to what to do?
I mean take something as innocuous as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek. You would think
she was a disposable negro, afterall, anybody can answer the phone, but it
totally ignores the fact that her showing up on the bridge everyday in those
boots and that mini-skirt made the mens, James T. and the rest of dem, happy -
heck - eager to come to work. Remove Uhura and it gone get snarly, snarky and
plum ugly up in there quick and in a hurry.
~rave!
--- In scifino...@yahoogro ups.com, George Arterberry wrote:
>
> Please list the greatest disposible Negroes in sci-fi.What is a disposible
> Negro you ask? Well if he or she is removed from the storyline it wont change
> one iota. I'll nominate Anastasia "Dee" Dualla and her totally uncalled for
> suicide in Battlestar Galactica.
>
> I mean we needed at least some sisters in modern-day Tanzinia to help
> repopulate the human race.
>
> There are so many others to list,where do i start?????
>
------------ --------- --------- ------
Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/scifinoir2 /app/peoplemap2/ entry/add?
fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/scifinoir2 /
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
People may lie, but the evidence rarely does.
