Reporting from San Diego — Before “Black Panther,†Nichelle Nichols began paving the way for afro-futurism and black representation in pop culture.
The 85-year-old actor received a standing ovation before even saying a word during her appearance Friday at a Comic-Con panel on the former subject.
Nichols is best known for her role as “Star Trek’s†Lt. Uhura on the TV series from 1966 to 1969 and in later franchise films. As one of the first black women to not play a servant or nanny on TV, she’s revered by many for shattering Hollywood barriers for black performers.
FULL COVERAGE: San Diego Comic-Con 2018 »
At the panel, Nichols reminded everyone of something else — her connection to the civil rights movement. After “Star Trek’s†first season, Nichols had plans to pursue other opportunities. Martin Luther King Jr., a Trekkie, persuaded her to stay.
“I was going to leave the show to go to Broadway because I’m a singer, dancer and actor, and I had an offer,†she said. “I was about to go when Dr. King said to me, ‘You can’t.’â€
“And I said, ‘What you talking about, Dr. King?’â€
Here’s what she said King told her: “What you have to give is important. You must take 24 hours and think about and if you still wish to go to Broadway at this time, I won’t stand in the way, I won’t try to talk you out of it.â€
King’s reminder worked.
“What he had to say stayed with me and it wouldn’t leave and so I couldn’t leave and I never regretted it.â€
1/20
Aquaman’s Jason Momoa, who plays the titular hero, makes a playful face during an autograph signing.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 2/20
Thomas Napper, cosplaying as the Amazing Spiderman, leaps off a railing.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 3/20
People take pictures together at Marvel’s #GroupHug pop-up on the third day of the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
4/20
Nick Phillips of San Diego holds a sign while people wait in line for panels in the Indigo Ball Room.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 5/20
Kathrynn Cobbs of Los Angeles points to group member Dalton Ross in the interrogation room in the Amazon Prime Jack Ryan activation event. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
6/20
A participant in the Amazon Prime Jack Ryan activation ducks to avoid enemy combatants in a VR simulation. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
7/20
Sheila Marler cosplaying as steampunk Catwoman and David Marler cosplaying as Captain Time walk down Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 8/20
A capacity crowd packs the 2018 Comic-Con exhibition hall floor.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 9/20
Brandon Isaacson, 35, of Alameda poses for pictures as “McThor,†a combination of Marvel’s Thor and McDonald’s Ronald McDonald, outside of Hall H.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10/20
A group makes their way through the Castle Rock activation event.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 11/20
James Lavelle, cosplaying as the Future Foundation costume Spider-Man, walks down a hallway inside a DC Universe activation site.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 12/20
Austen Bue, 11, from San Diego sends a text message to space, at the Hsitory Channel’s “Project Blue Book†activation site.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 13/20
Lauren Quan, 18, fo San Diego, and Caroline Duong, 18, of San Diego are pulled back by a hydraulic system at Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger activation event.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 14/20
Angel Mendoza of San Diego walks down 5th Street with an American flag on the first day of the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 15/20
Lee Joyner demonstrates a sculpting technique at the Cinema Makeup School booth in Hall H during the first day of the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 16/20
A squad of costumed Spider-Man fans — (alphabetically) Brandon Buisan, Paul Buisan, Kate Friedo, Nona Golan, Jacob Lavelle, James Lavelle and Milan Lavelle — poses for pictures outside of the DC experience area on the first day of the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 17/20
People dressed with the Court of Owls masks from DC Comic’s Batman at work in a maze building.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 18/20
At left, Tim Walker, 26, of San Diego, and Julia Homitano, 27, of San Diego, take a selfie with zombies while waiting in line at “The Walking Dead†booth.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 19/20
Tyler Lokum, 8, of Los Angeles offers his lollipop to a Mega Construx of the Pokemon Blastoise at the Mega Construx booth during a preview of the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 20/20
Fans raise their cell phones to take video of an animatronic performance at the Deadpool booth.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 
