The Light with Raymond Tyler
Raymond Tyler reflects on his interview with groundbreaking actress Nichelle Nichols. You can see an excerpt of that interview on youtube which is added below. Tyler also reflects on the impact that sports star Bill Russell had on him beyond sports. Tyler looks back and offers perspective as well on other recent personal and professional losses.
The last few weeks have taken a lot for for those of us that value culture. Since I truly do not know where to begin, I will start with my most personal loss.
Last week, I got a text telling me that a close friend, and a one-time “play cousin” passed away.
I think about my mortality daily and when I got the sudden news that my friend had passed, I was thankful for my health.
My friend contracted Covid and because of a preexisting condition, was fine one day and gone the next. I contracted Covid and thankfully, was made aware of problematic blood pressure numbers that are now being brought down. I am mindful of the fact that I am blessed to be writing this column today.
Then there is this past weekend. First, we all lost actor/director Tony Dow, known to most of us as Wally on “Leave It To Beaver.” Although I never met Dow, I have had the pleasure of speaking with, and being friends with many of his peers over the years.
His peers miss him and love him. I will miss him.
I was not born during the original run of the show, but I am a big brother. I have no idea if Dow was a big brother in real life, but I always felt that Dow, Jackie Jackson and I could always sit at the same table as “big brothers.”
I have never met an older sibling of any gender, race or economic class that did not share the same deep emotional connection with each other as the “older child.” Dow was one of the first big brothers on TV.
Speaking of growing up. As a child, I saw Tony/Emmy winning actress Mary Alice on every show I watched growing up – “Sanford and Son,” “Good Times,” “A Different World” and more.
I was lucky enough to see her off broadway, when live theater was affordable to a then 20-something Raymond Tyler, in August Wilson’s “Fences.” She, James Earl Jones and Courtney Vance were amazing in this story of Black life brought to the stage.
While processing the passing of Ms. Alice, I was in a comic book shop when I got the news that top 5 NBA player and activist Bill Russell died. I would not be writing for Shore Local without Bill Russell.
His impact on my life as a professional cannot be overstated. I have never been a Celtics fan, but I have always had respect and love for Russell. I would watch interviews and be jealous that I never got to ask him a question. I almost caught up with him several times in the last 20 years, but I dreamed of at least shaking his hand and saying “thank you.”
To discuss how great he was as a player, I have Russell as my No. 2 best player ever, and when I discussed who would be my first pick for an all-time great basketball team, Russell is always my No. 1.
While in the same comic book shop, literally about to purchase three Star Trek original series comics, I got the text that Nichelle Nichols died. Nichols is one of the interviews that I am most proud of, not because I asked some amazing question, but because I was talking with Nichelle Nichols.
In perspective, I threw her two “softball” questions, but I wanted to hear her perspective on her career as a Blaxploitation actress, and her breaking color lines in space and in reality. ( I prepped those questions for more than two weeks).
Nichols is yet another person that opened doors for me and millions that would never act. Nichelle Nichols inspired actual astronauts of color to join NASA.
Today, I am the Black Art Matters curator for The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University. I sit at tables that I would not be able to clean when “Star Trek” debuted and when Bill Russell started winning NBA championships.
When Nichols passed, my Facebook timeline lit up with sci-fi fans of every race and culture that had met Nichols at conventions and they all had great stories. I will always treasure my time on earth with Ms. Nichols.
Because of Nichelle Nichols, Bill Russell, seeing Mary Alice in “Fences” and growing up with Tony Dow, I will be here with another Light Column next week… “Same light time…same light channel.” Or, as Lt. Uhura would have said… “This channel is now closed. Communication ended.”
You can connect with Raymond Tyler via Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram @RaymondTyler2018.
