He told her not to give up and that she was a vital role model for young black women in America. Needless to say, Nichelle Nichols was so moved that she stayed with the show and has appeared in six of seven subsequent movies. Then there's the story of another actress who, as a child, was so inspired by the show that she said it changed her outlook on life. Star Trek is something I wanted to do since I was a little girl. That actress was Whoopi Goldberg.
Television can have a tremendous impact on our lives.
I am sure there are countless other stories reflecting how Hollywood has changed attitudes and given hope to hopeless situations. But we need more. I come here tonight with the hope of soliciting your input and your feedback and your support. Many people these days say we should not be pointing fingers about the problems we face in this country. We cannot be lulled into thinking that the recent tragedy in Littleton, Colorado, is an anomaly.