Roddenberry envisioned the starship U.S.S. Enterprise as a miniature version of planet Earth. The international crewmembers represented the people and nations of Earth: Captain Kirk was North America, Scotty was Britain or Europe, Sulu was Asia, and Chekhov was Russia. Lt. Uhura represented not only Africa, but also American Indians. In reality, several of the actors were Canadian. And, at the height of the Cold War, Walter Koenig (Checkhov) was from Chicago, not Russia.
As a lifetime fan of Star Trek, I read George Takei's autobiography, To the Stars, around 1995-1996. Only a few chapters in this long and interesting life story are about the T.V. show and spin-off movies. I was astonished to learn that American-born Takei and his family were imprisoned during World War II as part of the Japanese-American internment policy, wherein thousands of people were uprooted from their homes and sent to prison camps. I had never learned that dark piece of American history.
When Star Trek's original series cast got their own square in the Theatre's Hollywood Walk of Fame, they were supposed to only write their names so all seven could fit. But Takei, who had grown up in L.A., wasn't about to be shortchanged in this dream-come-true moment. When it came his turn, he signed his name, then placed his hand firmly in the cement. The rest of the cast came back and added their handprints – Leonard Nimoy's in the "Live long and prosper" Vulcan salute.
