Space 1999 and Racial Diversity

Space 1999 is a show that is often forgotten by sci-fi fans. Initially hugely popular, the series soon fell off, mainly because of its reputation (justly earned) for poor science and poor scriptwriting ability (despite the presence of otherwise able writers like Johnny Byrne, of Keepers of Traken fame. And yea, I think that's a good episode. Prove me wrong!). One thing that was very notable about Space 1999 was the multiracial, multinational cast. There was an Anglo-Asian woman, two white Brits, two Anglo-Africans, and three white Americans in the cast. Although there were no Russians because of Cold War concerns, Space 1999, like Star Trek, generally had a more positive view of the Eastern Terror than was common among Western television writers of the time. And I think that in many ways Space 1999's depiction of race was more positive than Star Trek's. For instance, the two black characters were both clearly intellectuals, avoiding the kind of animalistic casting of blacks that Uhura occasionally seemed to represent (let me dance to a Swahili tune, Mr. Spock, and get your Vulcan sex organs in an uproar). Although Americans represented the senior staff at the base, there was definitely less of a gung-ho, conquest of space narrative in Space 1999 than there was in Star Trek. I think in many ways Space 1999 resembled Babylon 5 in depicting a racial harmony that was less forced and less influenced by PC American standards of multiculturalism than Star Trek. People got along, not by denying difference (as in Star Trek), but by acknowledging it. Coincidentally, Space 1999 had one of the most pro-alien narratives of any sci-fi series up to that point and deserves acclaim for that. Regrettably, in season two much of the diversity in the series was lost, as the show took on a more American tone, but Space 1999 still stands as a landmark in nuanced racial depictions in science fiction.