"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"

BELE: It is obvious to the most simpleminded that Lokai is of an inferior breed.
SPOCK: The obvious visual evidence, Commissioner, is that he is of the same breed as yourself.
BELE: Are you blind, Commander Spock? Well, look at me. Look at me!
KIRK: You're black on one side and white on the other.
BELE: I am black on the right side.
KIRK: I fail to see the significant difference.
BELE: Lokai is white on the right side. All of his people are white on the right side. (via)



"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" is the 15th episode of the third season of Star Trek - The Original Series. It was first broadcast in 1969.



The episode is about the two humanoids Lokai and Bele, one white on the right half of his body and black on the left half and the other humanoid the other way round. Both insist that their people had been oppressed by the other, their prejudices are based on the skin colour of "the other" only or rather on being oppositely coloured. It is an episode that reflects the problems of the era (via) and tackles racism by demonstrating consequences of absurd prejudices.

"How can I make your flesh know how it feels to see all those who are like you, and only because they are like you, despised, slaughtered, and even worse, denied the simplest bit of decency that is a living being's right?" Lokai

The episode was partly criticised for using too obvious metaphors. Nevertheless, Star Trek once again communicated humanist values and Gene Roddenberry's vision to "say something", to challenge the viewer to think and react (via).




::: The complete episode on Vimeo: WATCH

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