Star Trek: Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green recently thanked Star Trek alum Whoopi Goldberg for paving the way for her to become the first Black female captain in a Star Trek series.
The actor made the comments during a recent appearance on The View, telling the show's co-hosts in a clip posted on YouTube, "Well, I have to say before I get started -- I have so much admiration and respect for all of you. And Whoopi, you mean a lot to me."
Martin-Green further explained she grew up watching Goldberg's work, and that her roles in The Color Purple, Made in America and Ghost played a big part in her relationship with her parents, who recently passed away.
"But I also want to say that making history in this way and being cemented in history in this way, as the first Black female captain of a Star Trek show, what I have learned -- I've been growing a lot lately and changing a lot on the heels of losing my parents -- and I realized that I was very self-oriented about it all," she continued. "And I thought it was up to me to do it perfectly and do everything right, to pay homage to the people that came before me."
Martin-Green noted, however, she recently realized her place as the first Black female captain is not really her accomplishment. "It's the accomplishment of those who have come before me. I simply stepped onto the path that was already laid for me," she explained. By . . . Nichelle [Nichols] and by you. And so, I am your accomplishment, and I thank you."
Trekkies will recall that Nichols portrayed Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series and made history as one of the first Black female characters on American television. Meanwhile, Goldberg appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Nemesis as Guinan, a bartender in the Ten-Forward lounge aboard the starship USS Enterprise-D. She is expected to reprise the role in the upcoming second season of Star Trek: Picard, after being personally invited by her former co-star Patrick Stewart.
Martin-Green currently stars as Captain Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery. The character was introduced in Season 1 of the series as the first officer aboard the USS Shenzhou, under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). Burnham was named Captain of the USS Discovery in Season 3, Episode 13 ("That Hope Is You Part 2").
The first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 are available now, with new episodes available Thursdays on Paramount+. Star Trek: Picard Season 2 premieres in February 2022.
Source: YouTube