Worldview~Star Trek

Star Trek is a common name to just about everyone these days.  Though i myself have never seen any of the series, i feel like i already know all about the characters and their missions in the Galaxy. Even now, Trekkies everywhere are waiting in great anticipation for the Release of Star Trek: Into the Darkness coming out this May.  Few seem to think about the original series, though.  The original series aired on NBC on 1966, and while critics today look at the series's cheesy script and even cheesier set, we all forget what a breakthrough it was for the time. Aimed for adults, Star Trek showed morality issues of a future generation of the crew of a space ship peacefully exploring the Galaxy.

Events that were taking place at the time included the Cold War and Racial Segregation and discrimination.  Not surprisingly Star Trek focused on these problems.  For instance, it was a multi-Racial crew that most memorably included both an African American Woman and a Russian crew member.  Blacks and women also appeared as Doctors and Scientist, something that was unheard of in the television industry. 

In the Video below is an example of Star Treks view of racism. 

In the Video we can see the two Men/Aliens are from the same planet, but are intent about destroying one another.  Notice the colors their faces are?  Black in white, reflecting the tension of the Whites and African Americans in the time of racial segregation.  Like the two alien in the video, the Whites and Blacks clashed against each other.   One Alien held against the other for a past enslavement of his people, and the other hated him for not being thankful for what love his people showed the others race.  Hmmmm. Sounds a little familiar don't you think?

Star Trek pushed one main message. That Despite the War and Racial injustice- Humanity will be OK. After the original series started and failed, the fans and other media took over its continued fame.  Conventions were held and actors spoke.  NASA named their first space shuttle orbiter the Enterprise after the space ship in Star Trek.  In 1970, Star Trek  became a motion picture, and was named the #1 TV show.  African American Scientists and Engineers have said that they have been greatly impacted by the TV shows, and women have stated that the shows have greatly changed their view of feminism, and given them confidence to seek out a different life for themselves. 

~Emma