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Posted on Nov 22, 2025
“Star Trek” airs the interracial kiss heard around the universe | November 22, 1968 | HISTORY
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It may not have technically been the first interracial kiss on American television. But on November 22, 1968, when a “Star Trek” episode titled “Plato’s Stepchildren” features Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (played by Black actress Nichelle Nichols) locking lips with Captain Kirk (portrayed by white actor William Shatner), it’s a major cultural moment. The kiss comes just one year after Loving v. Virginia, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional nationwide laws prohibiting interracial marriage between white and non-white citizens.
In the episode, alien bullies use their telekinetic powers to force Starship Enterprise crew members to sing, dance—and, in the case of Kirk and Uhura, to embrace and kiss. There had been other interracial kisses on TV before, like when Sammy Davis Jr. smooched Nancy Sinatra on the cheek in 1967, or when Shatner himself kissed Filipino actress BarBara Luna in an earlier “Star Trek” episode. But none had the seismic impact of this one. According to a 2010 interview Nichols did with the Television Academy Foundation, “Plato’s Stepchildren" prompted the most "fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on 'Star Trek' for one episode."
In the episode, alien bullies use their telekinetic powers to force Starship Enterprise crew members to sing, dance—and, in the case of Kirk and Uhura, to embrace and kiss. There had been other interracial kisses on TV before, like when Sammy Davis Jr. smooched Nancy Sinatra on the cheek in 1967, or when Shatner himself kissed Filipino actress BarBara Luna in an earlier “Star Trek” episode. But none had the seismic impact of this one. According to a 2010 interview Nichols did with the Television Academy Foundation, “Plato’s Stepchildren" prompted the most "fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on 'Star Trek' for one episode."
“Star Trek” airs the interracial kiss heard around the universe | November 22, 1968 | HISTORY
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Posted 13 d ago
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Yep, that caused quite a stir back then. The day after it aired, well, every Social Studies Class in my HS was abuzz with it. And my HS was entirely White. We had an exchange Student from Nigeria...and that satisfied the Integration Requirements. One of the comments I have never forgotten was by a kid in our class who said:
"I don't get it. That would be like kissing a Catholic...who the heck is going to do that?"
And that taught me how deep prejudice can run. (I was Catholic.)
"I don't get it. That would be like kissing a Catholic...who the heck is going to do that?"
And that taught me how deep prejudice can run. (I was Catholic.)
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
SGT Kevin Hughes I felt a deep sadness when I read your last sentence. I see your experience was very powerful.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
PO3 Phyllis Maynard - Phyllis , that little incident was nothing compared to the Mountain of stuff you had to go through...and still do. But back in those days, Religion was a huge factor for hate (go figure) But unit the last eight years, for more than forty years, most folks stopped caring what Faith you followed, or who you married. So my hope was that all forms of prejudice would just fade. Just like being Catholic became (mostly) no big deal. Not one of my five Sisters married a Catholic...and not one of them lost their Faith.
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@col john McClellan I saw an interview by Nichol Nichols where she expressed some very devasted feelings over how that was for her behind the camera.
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