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Middle-Easterners in "Discovery"

What part of Africa Uhura was from wasn't the real issue back then, it was that Saldana's Uhura did not appear to have the same lineage as Nichelle's original Uhura. The complaint was that Saldana was cast in the role because she had a more, shall we say "commercial" look.

The problem a number of black people had with Saldana was simply as you tried to imply with "commercial" that she was too light skinned and her features not considered broad enough. It seems series and movie producers often prefer to cast black woman looking like Halle Berry/Zoe Saldana over some who look more like Viola Davis/Lupita Nyong'o. It is the same with Hispanic actresses. The "whiter" they look, the higher their job chances. So in short some think that it is colorism to cast a lighter skinned black woman in a role a darker skinned black woman previously played. Of course the Uhura/Zoe Saldana debate was nothing compared to when Zoe Saldana played Nina Simone. Now that was ugly!
 
In TOS, it was remarkable that there was a woman of colour on the bridge, but ultimately, she answered the phone.
But that's not all Uhura did, she stepped away from the communication console is some episodes. She was seen doing other duties, at the navigation console, on a landing party, and just moving about the ship.
And it was also only West Germany which got some of that aid money, not East Germany
How would the Western powers have gotten money into East Germany? There was no access.
 
The nicest thing about nuUhura was how they expanded her part to linguistics as well as communications - completely believable expansion of the existing character while giving her much more to do. It was a nice reversal of that horrid bit in TUC where she can't understand even basic Klingon.
 
The problem a number of black people had with Saldana was simply as you tried to imply with "commercial" that she was too light skinned and her features not considered broad enough.

How is that different from white people? Most white people do not look like Chris Pine, or Alice Eve.
 
How is that different from white people? Most white people do not look like Chris Pine, or Alice Eve.

The difference is that dark skin in combination with typical African features are labelled as ugly. That is especially so if a woman has also curly hair. The result is that actresses can be young, slim, fit, with clean skin, etc. and they are often still not considered pretty enough for Hollywood. That is just not the case with white people. Their skin tone is considered to be nice, their typical features pretty.

Just watch this Indian commercial:

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That is practically the message sent out, when casting directors prefer quite often light skinned black women over darker skinned ones. Light skin is pretty, dark not.

And colorism is not only about Hollywood. It affects normal people in daily life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_based_on_skin_color
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-colorism-2834952

That is definitely not the case with white people. Having a tan, brown hair and brown eyes instead of paler skin, blond/red hair and blue eyes doesn't automatically lessen your chance of getting a job, good pay, a romantic partner, etc. All shades of white are equally accepted in society.
 
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Of course the Uhura/Zoe Saldana debate was nothing compared to when Zoe Saldana played Nina Simone. Now that was ugly!
Indeed! One of he most blatant examples of producers' willingness to make astronomically bad casting decisions in service of their own personal prejudices.
The nicest thing about nuUhura was how they expanded her part to linguistics as well as communications - completely believable expansion of the existing character while giving her much more to do. It was a nice reversal of that horrid bit in TUC where she can't understand even basic Klingon.
Yes, a welcome and natural progression for the character.
How is that different from white people? Most white people do not look like Chris Pine, or Alice Eve.
In addition to Cake's excellent explanations, I'll add that in casting Star Trek, it appeared that the producers went through great pains to hire actors who were pretty good physical approximations of Kirk, Bones, Chekov, and Sulu. However, in casting Uhura, no such care was taken.
 
I'll add that in casting Star Trek, it appeared that the producers went through great pains to hire actors who were pretty good physical approximations of Kirk, Bones, Chekov, and Sulu.
I think they missed the mark on all of those. The latter three especially. Luckily the performances made up for it.
 
In addition to Cake's excellent explanations, I'll add that in casting Star Trek, it appeared that the producers went through great pains to hire actors who were pretty good physical approximations of Kirk, Bones, Chekov, and Sulu. However, in casting Uhura, no such care was taken.
Outside of the stupid 60s hairstyle Zoe Saldana is a dead ringer for a younger Nichelle Nichols, so what the hell are you smoking?
 
Outside of the stupid 60s hairstyle Zoe Saldana is a dead ringer for a younger Nichelle Nichols, so what the hell are you smoking?
Cover your left eye and read line four.
w8ZJdU2.jpg
 
Nichelle Nichols is curvy, Saldana is slim. It's not that Saldana has no curves, just less.

The two women don't look remotely alike.
 
Outside of the stupid 60s hairstyle Zoe Saldana is a dead ringer for a younger Nichelle Nichols, so what the hell are you smoking?
Yep we all look the same......:rolleyes:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=n...utbVAhUVM8AKHersAQYQ_AUICigB&biw=1093&bih=510

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw....0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.10.462.QwBi8dkfKDI

Lupita would be the perfect actress for the part. A real East African!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw...6.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.6.296.Do8sD_-8Thc
 
I'll add that in casting Star Trek, it appeared that the producers went through great pains to hire actors who were pretty good physical approximations of Kirk, Bones, Chekov, and Sulu.

I think they missed the mark on all of those. The latter three especially. Luckily the performances made up for it.

Chekov was the furthest from his original series counterpart, my ordering from least to most resembling:

Chekov
Scotty
Uhura
Sulu
Kirk
McCoy
Spock
 
It's completely unclear who President Trump was referring to, when criticizing "hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides." That's a Rorschach inkblot that can mean whatever you want it to mean. Which of the "many sides" committed murder, allegedly I mean? The silence is a deafening silence of specificity.

edit/breaking news: The President has just offered a more specific condemnation.
 
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