Black geeks love "Star
Trek," but don't come at us talking about how cool Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) from "Deep Space
Nine" is, or how he was the best captain of all the "Star Trek"
franchises. We know this. We also love Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and the black ... more Klingons (although
we're indifferent to black Vulcans). But the one character from "Star Trek"
every black geek loves is Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). He is a vital part of the crew,
but every now and then, someone reminds Spock that he's not like them -- usually
it's Dr. McCoy calling him a "blasted pointy-eared hobgoblin." Any black geek
who has been the only black person in a comic book store, or the only black
person in a D&D tournament, or the only black person standing in line
waiting to buy the latest "Harry Potter" book, has felt the sting of alienation
that plagued Spock every moment he was on the Enterprise. And that is why we
love him. Deep down inside, every black geek sees a bit of himself or
herself in Mr. Spock.
