Entertainment
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Conversation That Changed Television History
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is a franchise with plenty of dialogue that has become part and parcel of our shared pop culture, and even non-fans are prone to saying things like “He’s dead, Jim” or “beam me up.” However, one veteran Trek writer thinks that an overlooked conversation in a largely forgotten episode might be one of the franchise’s greatest moments. According to prolific novelist J.M. Dillard, a quick conversation between Commander Sisko and Dr. Bashir in the Deep Space Nine episode “The Forsaken” made TV history by subverting the usual racist depictions of onscreen characters in the ‘90s.
The Conversation
The conversation starts when Bashir visits Sisko’s office to talk about the doctor’s task of escorting annoying alien ambassadors around the station. In Star Trek – Where No One Has Gone Before, Dillard admits that “there’s nothing unusual about this conversation” because “it’s the kind that goes on every day in offices all over the world.” However, “the difference is that when a Black man is talking to a Middle Eastern man in a typical television drama, they are almost certain to be talking about drugs, crime, terrorism, or violence–and are most likely to be presented as uneducated, heavily accented, immoral, or antisocial–but never on Star Trek.”
To younger fans born after Deep Space Nine came out, Dillard’s claim may seem a bit hyperbolic, but it’s worth remembering that this show very deliberately centered on issues of race from the very beginning. Avery Brooks’ Sisko was the first Black lead in a Trek show and remained the only one until the premiere of Discovery. Later DS9 episodes would explore race and racism very directly, including “Far Beyond the Stars,” an episode revealing that the entire show might be an invention of Benny Russell, a sci-fi writer facing extreme (and very ugly) racism in 1953 America.
Such storytelling might seem on the nose now, but the Deep Space Nine writers felt it was necessary because Dillard was right: far too many Black characters in the ‘80s and ‘90s were portrayed as dangerous thugs rather than righteous heroes. Brooks, for example, was presented sympathetically in his breakout role in Spenser for Hire, but his character of Hawk was still a largely unscrupulous hitman who often seemed written as more of a racist caricature than a character.
Whether Hawk was a tokenized or trailblazing character is certainly up for debate, but Brooks himself later noted that his portrayal caused many white fans to assume that he really was a gun-toting guy whom the producers recruited from “a street corner somewhere.” He said that some of those same fans “talk to me in some vernacular that’s supposed to be, what, black speech?” Hollywood wasn’t much better than these fans: while DS9 was still on, he starred in The Big Hit, a big-budget film where he portrayed (what else?) a violent mob boss.
From the beginning, Deep Space Nine centered on race with its human characters and its aliens. For example, the story of Cardassians using Bajorans as slave labor on the titular space station is clearly evocative of America’s troubled racial history. And Brooks was never afraid to step in and speak to the writers when he thought they might accidentally be feeding into racial stereotypes. This is most evident in the series finale: Brooks insisted that Sisko tell his pregnant wife Kasidy Yates that he would return someday because he was uncomfortable with a story about a Black man abandoning his wife to raise their child alone.
As Dillard notes, though, the real magic of Deep Space Nine is that it can tell stories about race that nonetheless don’t always make a big deal about the whole thing. Even at its most preachy, the show never feels like we’re being lectured to via an ‘80s-style “very special episode.” Instead, DS9 presents characters of all races with dignity and professionalism, showing us that a better tomorrow is about more than replicators and warp drives. It’s also about leaving our old hangups and prejudices in the past as we reach toward a better future for everyone regardless of the color of their skin.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
