Laying aside the whys and the wherefores of this particular not-so-timely edition (pun intended) being on my local shelves again, I ask you, what do you notice first, gazing upon this cover? (Other than: Where is Scotty?)
I'll tell you what I saw. (Most of) the major officers of a cult-popular classic TV show, one that has sparked a movie franchise as well as several series sequels, standing together, looking grave and purposeful. Off to the far left, the only major female cast member, a woman of color, and apparently not even enough left in the budget to cover her body!
"Ah, but Claudia, short skirts were the fashion then!" Yes. Yes, they were. And so was objectifying women, especially women of minority status.
A whole generation of women, especially young women of color, grew up with Lt. Nyota Uhura, fictional character though she was, as a role model. Something I was ignorant of until I began watching All Rise (Mondays, 9 PM ET on CBS, streaming on CBS All Access), whose lead character, Judge Lola Carmichael, held Uhura up as one of her heroes. Finally taking my head out of my butt, I found an article that taught me about Uhura's, and Nichelle Nichols' contributions to STEM, and another one, more philosophical in tone, pointing toward a brighter future, for the Uhuras among us, and all women.
Then I read a story like this and realize I'm not so optimistic:
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