Racism has always been a sensitive and polarizing issue. The original Star Trek was opening our minds to the possibility of a better future, just as the American civil rights movement achieved many of its ambitious goals. However, civil rights on paper does not always translate to civil rights in practice, and humanity has been navigating the thorny forest of prejudice since the Stone Age. It is heartening to see a forward-thinking and utopian show tackle what was obviously a hot issue at the time, but the episode also implies that racism will continue to exist far into the future of the Star Trek universe. At least on the planet Cheron, the division is surface level and the hatred runs deep.
On their way to Ariannus for an urgent decontamination mission, the Enterprise stumbles upon a stolen Federation shuttle. With its life support failing, Kirk and crew rescue the shuttle pilot, who identifies himself as Lokai of the planet Cheron. His planet consists of two humanoid races, the Locutans and the Bele, who are torn apart by a civil war extending centuries, which is entirely based on a superficial difference in skin color. The Locutans are black on one side of their face and white on the other, while the Bele are black and white on the opposite sides to the Locutans. The heavy-handed symbolism was meant to demonstrate the absurdity of racism, highlighting the arbitrary nature of dividing humanity based on physical attributes.
Lokai himself is being chased by a Bele commissioner sent to apprehend political traitors. Bele and Lokai, who serve as representatives of their respective races, are bitter enemies, each believing their skin color signifies superiority over the other. However, like any complex issue, there is more going on under the surface. The shared history between the two races is where the true conflict lies, but they are too engrossed in their surface-level judgment to see each other as dignified beings. Bele is part of the ruling order of the planet Cheron, arbitrating what is in the best interest for all citizens, and Lokai is fighting the unjust oppression of his people by the Bele. In short, one had a savior complex, and the other was a revolutionary. While one alien lamented historical injustice, the other espoused the virtue of colonialism. It is their history that made them enemies, more so than their skin color.
In the middle of all this, Captain Kirk grapples with an existential crisis brought on by the seemingly meaningless conflict between the two alien races. The philosophical issues raised would be difficult enough if the Cherons had not striated themselves based on race. Are civilizations better with absolute rulers or democracies? Is culture an adaptable social construct or a sacred tradition worthy of preservation? Does colonization do more harm or good? Historical tensions are at the real heart of racism, which is why an arbitrary physical difference, such as being black and white on the opposite sides of the body, oversimplifies the issue.
Black skin or white, the Cherons never did overcome their prejudice and avert the civil war. Upon returning to their planet, Lokai and Bele discover annihilated cities and piles of corpses. Everything they knew was destroyed. Although Kirk offers the last two members of Cheron a place in the Federation, the stubborn aliens return to their planet instead and continue their unending war concerning the atrocities of a civilization that no longer exists.
How close are we to annihilating ourselves over petty differences in skin color, or the deeply felt barbarity of history? It may have been the case that every single citizen of Cheron was an unmitigated racist. Perhaps we may avoid the same destiny if there remain enough good and compassionate people in society to put an end to senseless hate. The real antidote to racism is to see the other as an equal being, and unless we realize the root of the issue, we will fight for all eternity.
Hopeless Trekkie 