DECODING THE USE OF THE MASKED BLACK MAN IN THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE

Without a doubt Star Trek has been one of our pop culture's most groundbreaking science fiction offerings with casts of dozens and multiple stable acting ensembles. However, it seems that Black males though present in the franchise since The Next Generation are often cast as aliens (Worf, Tuvok) or behind a mask/visor (Geordi). Compared with other nonblack characters do these individuals get short shrift in development or are these limitations endemic to these types of supporting characters? Join us as we decode the Star Trek Universe's use of the masked Black man, in tonight's discussion in the OTHERhood.