How Two Inspiring Human Rights Legends Inspired Me

By: Valerie Rochester, Chief Health Equity Officer, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

As we all learned of the loss of two cultural and human rights icons this past weekend, I had to stop and reflect on the impact of their lives and their passion for justice on my own life. It may seem strange that an NBA legend and a barrier-breaking actress would make such a difference on the life of someone like me working in public health and health equity spaces, but both Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell did just that.

I remember in my formative years, being a little Black girl—an only girl with three brothers—I learned quickly to appreciate two things: the importance of standing up for and claiming my place in this world—and sports. When it came to knowing how to claim my place, there were very few public role models for Black girls at that time. Then came “Star Trek”—the original—and Nichelle Nichols. Even though the show only aired for three seasons, its impact has been enduring. Nichelle Nichols became part of my weekly TV ritual. Watching her embody the groundbreaking role of Lt. Uhura, a Black woman, in outer space, and in a position of power, she helped change not just the face of television at that time, but also helped me and other young girls see that we could “boldly go where no woman has gone before” and see ourselves open to opportunities we would have never thought possible. She claimed her place as the only woman on the bridge of that starship and seeing that play out on the small screen was inspiring.

Long after the original series ended in 1969, she continued finding ways to inspire, uplift and open doors; by working to ensure equality and equity through her partnership with NASA. She worked to help diversify the agency, promoting opportunities for, and advance recruitment of, people of color and women for the space program. Through her efforts, the doors were opened for astronauts like Guion Bluford, Sally Ride and Mae Jemison.

Then there was the influence of sports on my life. Basketball was a favored sport in my family and names like Bill Russell were revered in my household. With Bill Russell, it was not just for his skills and finesse on the basketball court, but for what he did off the court as well. He was a champion of and for his fellow teammates and fellow players of color. He was a pioneer in how the game was played at that time, but more importantly, he was a pioneer in showing how players could work to make a difference in their communities. My father shared this same sense of commitment, and I grew up hearing that I should never forget where I came from, and that I must always find a way to give back. Bill Russell found his way to give back. His activism in civil rights and social justice clearly demonstrated how he valued equality, respect for all, and inclusion, and his long-standing dedication as a human rights activist was recognized when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

While Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell may have taken different career paths for their chosen professions, their mutual beliefs in equality and the stances each of them took in the name of social justice and equity, helped pave the way for a path that many, like me, who are committed to those very same movements, are able to walk today.