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Uhura trailer released

Was Lupita Nyong'o in the discussion for the Uhura role (for the Abrams films I'm guessing)?

Lupita Nyong'o's career didn't really have a big breakthrough until 12 Years A Slave was released in 2013. Star Trek 2009 was filmed in between November 2007 and March 2008, so it was casting in 2007 -- six years before her big break. Nyong'o was just starting her career in 2007, serving on production crews; in 2008, she appeared in a short film, and then in 2009 she worked on several productions in Kenya: acting on a TV show entitled Shuga, directing a music video for Wahu, and writing & directing a documentary called In My Genes about the Kenyan albino population. From there, she enrolled in grad school to get a master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama. She booked 12 Years A Slave in 2012 immediately after finishing at Yale. So she was almost unknown in 2007 and not really in consideration; I can't even find any evidence she auditioned.

* * *

Meanwhile, Celia R. Gooding, who I have been told in this thread is insufficiently feminine...

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:vulcan:

... has made the following posts on her Twitter account that seem pertinent to a topic of recent discussion:

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ADDENDUM TO MY POST ABOVE: It has come to my attention that, while I posted the first two photos with the intent of rebutting the allegation that Celia R. Gooding is insufficiently "feminine," Gooding's bio on Twitter indicates the use of "they/she" pronouns. I'm unclear on whether Gooding identifies as nonbinary or genderqueer. I would still describe her personal aesthetic as quite feminine, but it's just worth bearing in mind that these concepts can be more complicated than the old binaries we all grew up in. :bolian:
 
It's the hair, which being 10 years earlier, it would be unrealistic if it was the same. Anybody want to photoshop Nichelles's hair on her?
Ms. Nichols wore wigs, which was standard for black actresses back in those days. Because our natural hair was considered unattractive. (I think the only time her actual hair was displayed was in TMP.)

I'm happy that those days are over. Also, Ms. Gooding's hair is perfect for a young woman who grew up in Kenya where very short hair is common. (I'm half-Kenyan.)
 
Why the fuck should I care or comment on another person's hair?
Good on you!

I am seeing "she should wear a wig" comments quite a bit. It's getting on my nerves. Black American women grow up with a lot of hair trauma that may not be commonly known.

Like Nichols' Uhura revolutionized the portrayal of black women on TV, Gooding's Uhura is revolutionizing the female hair standard. I was a little half black American, half Kenyan girl when the beautiful Nichols first graced the screen and identified with her for her African name as much as for her appearance.

Now Gooding demonstrates that black women need not straighten their hair or wear wigs to be presentable. That the short hair is common in Kenya is pitch perfect.

Many may not get the importance of cultural representation, but I think most Trek fans want to get it.

Hope this helps.
 
Good on you!

I am seeing "she should wear a wig" comments quite a bit. It's getting on my nerves. Black American women grow up with a lot of hair trauma that may not be commonly known.

Like Nichols' Uhura revolutionized the portrayal of black women on TV, Gooding's Uhura is revolutionizing the female hair standard. I was a little half black American, half Kenyan girl when the beautiful Nichols first graced the screen and identified with her for her African name as much as for her appearance.

Now Gooding demonstrates that black women need not straighten their hair or wear wigs to be presentable. That the short hair is common in Kenya is pitch perfect.

Many may not get the importance of cultural representation, but I think most Trek fans want to get it.

Hope this helps.
I might not always agree with Roddenberry but when he says about baldness in the future no one will care I'm all in.
 
I'm not there yet, but as I've gotten older my hairline has definitely decided to make like the Russian Army at Kyiv: a strategic retreat and redeployment... ;)
 
ADDENDUM TO MY POST ABOVE: It has come to my attention that, while I posted the first two photos with the intent of rebutting the allegation that Celia R. Gooding is insufficiently "feminine," Gooding's bio on Twitter indicates the use of "they/she" pronouns. I'm unclear on whether Gooding identifies as nonbinary or genderqueer. I would still describe her personal aesthetic as quite feminine, but it's just worth bearing in mind that these concepts can be more complicated than the old binaries we all grew up in. :bolian:

Following up on this, Gooding has made a series of Tweets providing some clarification on their gender identity:

I try my best to avoid public conversation about my gender identity bc it is so tender and precious to me rn, but let me make one thing incredibly clear. If you do not know me personally, do not try to speak on me and my identity.

I use both she and they pronouns. I refer to myself as a Black woman occasionally bc that’s the easiest way to make it through conversation but I am incredibly complex. My friends call me “queen, sis, mama” bc I trust they understand my complexities underneath it all.

I’m queer. My gender & sexual identities are queer as hell & trying to use the english language to describe my cosmic ass can be frustrating and sometimes I don’t wanna do it. I love y’all sm but don’t get too comfortable talking abt me when even I can’t put words to it sometimes

I’m not “fine with being called a ‘woman’”. Especially not without ‘Black’ before it. I stomach it bc as a Black queer femme I’ve learned to stomach a lot in this life. Do with that what you will. I’m learning to live comfortably in spaces language cannot reach. Try it! ✨

They then replied to another tweet:

I’m a black woman but I’m not a woman

those that get it get it

this! this right here! okay? alright. gn bird app and space fishies

Gooding has indicated that they use both she and they pronouns. I have chosen to use they pronouns in the context of quoting them to respect their rejection of a female gender identity.
 
Following up on this, Gooding has made a series of Tweets providing some clarification on their gender identity:

I try my best to avoid public conversation about my gender identity bc it is so tender and precious to me rn, but let me make one thing incredibly clear. If you do not know me personally, do not try to speak on me and my identity.

I use both she and they pronouns. I refer to myself as a Black woman occasionally bc that’s the easiest way to make it through conversation but I am incredibly complex. My friends call me “queen, sis, mama” bc I trust they understand my complexities underneath it all.

I’m queer. My gender & sexual identities are queer as hell & trying to use the english language to describe my cosmic ass can be frustrating and sometimes I don’t wanna do it. I love y’all sm but don’t get too comfortable talking abt me when even I can’t put words to it sometimes

I’m not “fine with being called a ‘woman’”. Especially not without ‘Black’ before it. I stomach it bc as a Black queer femme I’ve learned to stomach a lot in this life. Do with that what you will. I’m learning to live comfortably in spaces language cannot reach. Try it! ✨

They then replied to another tweet:

I’m a black woman but I’m not a woman

those that get it get it
this! this right here! okay? alright. gn bird app and space fishies

Gooding has indicated that they use both she and they pronouns. I have chosen to use they pronouns in the context of quoting them to respect their rejection of a female gender identity.


I first wondered how this applies to Uhura although in many other ways I now do. Gooding is a very passionate LGBTQ advocate. She left her Broadway show due to rampid transphobia. She talks about gender identity on twitter and has made comments about Uhura been bi or gay. If she was this passionate, she should have played a brand new queer character in Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek TV shows is known mostly for casting LGBTQ queer actors in LGBTQ Roles. No straight actor is playing gueer role in Star Trek Discovery or Picard. Strange new world creators should have given Gooding a queer role to play, mostly when she looks nothing like Nichelle Nichols.
 
I first wondered how this applies to Uhura although in many other ways I now do. Gooding is a very passionate LGBTQ advocate. She left her Broadway show due to rampid transphobia. She talks about gender identity on twitter and has made comments about Uhura been bi or gay. If she was this passionate, she should have played a brand new queer character in Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek TV shows is known mostly for casting LGBTQ queer actors in LGBTQ Roles. No straight actor is playing gueer role in Star Trek Discovery or Picard. Strange new world creators should have given Gooding a queer role to play, mostly when she looks nothing like Nichelle Nichols.
All entirely wrong, cadet.
 
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