Tagged: avery brooks

Captain’s Log: The Meaning of the Phrase “Kirk Out”

This might truly be the first truly esoteric black trekkie post ever.  I think you had to be Black and born some time between 1975 and 1980 to appreciate the phrase “kirk out”.  So, let’s get into it.

Does anyone know how this became a black cultural idiom?  I have no idea.  The funny thing is when you say it, almost every black person knows exactly what it implies–you went temporarily (read: batsh*t) insane.  In most situations, you’ve tried your best to keep your cool, but someone or a situation kept trying your patience and…finally, IT, whatever IT might be, was on!  You were done negotiating, trying to be heard, waiting patiently, listening to reason, trying to be empathetic, whatever.  You, Bruce Banner, turned into this raging Hulk of a person that not even your momma could calm down:

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Example convo:

John:  Yo, I was driving today and this mickey flickey cut me off.  I couldn’t believe it when he flipped me the bird after I honked at him.  Yo, seriously, I almost got out of the car and KIRKED the ****(optional) OUT on that cat!  He better be glad I had a meeting because, otherwise, y’all would have been seeing me on the news at 6, yo. 

Homie:  I’m glad you didn’t, man.  Not over something so silly. 

Now, we all remember that Captain Kirk said “Kirk, out” whenever he signed off communications.  We also know that Captain Kirk was forever going off-script and just flying into rages, but how did this enter the black vernacular?  Not sure, but I’m glad it did.  It is such a effective, concise way of conveying about 50 curse words at once.

Anyone else have ideas?

Edit:  We are still looking for answers in 2021.

Black Trekkies, I’m Looking For You!

We just turned 1 year old!  Woot!  Hosting the blog has been a fun, creative outlet so far.  It turns out that “Black Trekkies” is the top search term that is leading people to find the Black Trekkie blog.  I knew we were out there!  And, it appears that we are searching for one another.  It’s been a fun year and we have bigger and better things planned for the future.

SO…if you happen onto this blog and find it funny and/or interesting, become a guest poster. If you just want to hang, leave a comment and subscribe.

I’d love to have more activity on the blog and offering alternative insights into the Trek would be great.  And, please post comments and follow Black Trekkie.  Every click gets us a little closer to the Delta Quadrant.  Just kidding, it just lessens the distance between us.

We can even have an awesome Gorn/Kirk-style play fight.  We’ll figure out what the fight was about later.  Keep checking in, I’m looking to hear from you!

 

Captain’s Log: Thanks for Uhura, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I imagine DS9 happened something like this:

There’s a meeting between the DS9 writers and the lightbulb goes off and someone says “I’ve got it!  Let’s make him an intergalactic Martin Luther King, Jr.”  Then, they call in Avery Brooks and he is full of ideas about how to bring nuance and depth to the character.  The head writer interrupts him, Kanye-style, and hands him a VHS tape of the “I Have a Dream” speech, gives him the attaboy, and tells him to come back in a month.

I feel like I should talk about MLK, Jr. in June or really any other time than his designated day.  Why?  Because his contributions to our society and the world deserve more  attention and investigation.

Most people know MLK, Jr. for his ubiquitous I Have a Dream speech in Washington.  But, most people don’t know much about his inner life, his turmoil, and the very personal sacrifices he made during his journey.  His writings and sermons from shortly before his death are definitely worth read.

This year, the celebration of his life and contributions will understandably be overshadowed by the second inauguration of the first black (and possibly Vulcan) president of the United States.

What does this have to do with Star Trek? 

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