Their legacies will live on, local Black leaders share about losing two Black icons
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Though over the weekend, two Black icons passed away, local Black leaders say their legacies will live on.
At 88-years-old, the greatest winner in basketball history, Bill Russell, passed away – and at 89-years-old, barrier breaking actress, Nichelle Nichols also died.
Those who have looked up to the two icons throughout their life say their impact went much further than what was seen on television.
“When I think about [these two icons], how do I take this torch and continue the work that they’ve been doing and make an impact not only within my family, but in my community,” Cynthia Wilson, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, said.
Wilson says Star Trek wasn’t the type of television show she’d watch, but she did because of Nichols.
“I watched it because there was someone on there that looked like me,” Wilson said, adding: “Here’s someone who looks like me, that I could potentially, you know, do the same thing was huge for me. And so I watched it because of her.”
Nichols was most known for her starring role on Star Trek – at the time she was one of the first Black women to have such a role. Nichols was also part of one of the most powerful moments in television history when she and co-star William Shatner shared an interracial kiss – that at the time was unheard of.
Russell was an 11-time National Basketball Association champion during his 13-year career – he was also the league’s first Black head coach.
Also a civil rights activist, his work off the court also earned him the honor of receiving the Presidential Medal of Honor.
“To see a titan pass away, a pioneer in every right, really hurts,” P.J. Hill, vice president of the Minneapolis NAACP, said.
Also a former professional basketball player, Hill said he’s modeled his work as a player and now Black leader after Russell.
“I’m honored to be able to stand on the back of somebody like Bill Russell,” Hill said. “I’m going to keep his legacy moving forward with trying to do the work on a local level.”