There have been several explanations for why the Klingons look different between Star Trek: The Original Series and when they popped up in Star Trek: The Movie for their brief appearance before V’Ger took center role. Btw according to some of the books V’Ger was actually found by the early Borg and sent back by them. Due to a black hole’s effect V’Ger could have been sent back thousands of years.

Star Trek: Enterprise seems to be the offical canon explanation for now at least. Namely that the high forehead strong violent Klingons are how the species naturally looks.
Due to the clandestine pre-federation group Section 31 which still survives to the time of Deep Space Nine and beyond the Klingons underwent a change in their biology. They were infected with a virus that would wipe them out however the Enterprise devised a cure that genetically changed the Klingons. Making them less stronger then humans plus some other changes that resulted in Klingons being more sneaky and more human looking.

However Gene Roddenberry stated the klingons in the original series were Southern Klingons while the beetle browed ones were the Northern Klingons. Some of the source material in expanded formats such as role playing games stated that were several ethnicities of Klingons similar to how humans are. Instead of skin color being the primary denotor of ethnicity. or eye folds it’s forehead ridges although skin color also is part of it. The original series Klingons were described as Asiatic for example. In the time of the original series the smooth forehead Klingon strain become predominant and the rest underwent surgical procedures to well advance in the world of the smooth heads. Later on the beetle browed took control and the Klingons in the military etc who wanted to advance underwent surgery.

There are a few mpre explanations depending upon what books you are reading.

On Star Trek Enterprise that was a result of a cure to a virus inflicated on the Klingons by Section 31. Later on they managed to reverse the change hence why Work commented they didn’t talk about it.

That is the offical tv explanation. There were a few others such as that there were several races of Klingons and that for a few time the weak ridged ones took control so the rest of the Klingons underwent surgery to advance in the low bridge society.

Another explanation was that the high bridged klingons are the result of genetic enginering and the rest of the klingons underwent genetic surgery to be those more stronger klingons.

Yes the Ferengi were meant to be the primary antagonists however that role went to the Cardiasians who were so well received after one episode they rewrote things.

louise: Amos and Andy was blackface?! *headdesk* Now I really feel ignorant ….

Danny: “The simple notion of wearing a costume is for fun and jokes (and scary). To get a good laugh if you will. ” Actually, I participated for several years in amateur costuming (sort of an off-shoot of the costume-calls of sci-fi conventions), and trust me - it’s not all about the laugh. We actually have a term for people who are absolutely FANATICAL about accuracy - “authenticity Nazis.” These people exist to make other people miserable, I swear! If you’re not authentic from the skin out, you’re a horrible costumer!! Therefore, if you (for instance) wanted to recreate a Japanese daimyo costume from the Shogunate era, you’d better either find a Japanese person to wear the costume, or wear make-up that makes *you* look Japanese - otherwise, it’s NOT AUTHENTIC!! Arrggghhh ….. I gave it up because it’s a really expensive hobby, but I enjoyed it while I participated.

Samantha Vines: Now for my nerdy moment - based on information that was authorized and licensed by Paramount and Lincoln Enterprises, and presented in various roleplaying games, movies, etc., Klingons are dark because their home planet orbits around a blue-white star (they survive because of the heavy cloud cover). But the ultraviolet rays still caused them to develop a heavy melanin to protect themselves. The pale, ridgeless Klingons are actually hybrids, a cross between Klingons and humans, deliberately bred by the Klingon Empire for use as spies, etc. (Remember the Trouble with Tribbles?) Eh, mostly it made it fun to do Klingon costuming - only (of course) me and my friends had to include lots of glittery stuff (we were the Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Services - KIDS, so you know we didn’t take it too seriously). I wore darker makeup (about 4-5 shades darker than my natural color) so help disguise the fact that I had a fake scar (yay, latex) in effort to make me look scary (I’m normally about as scary as your average teddy bear). NOT ONCE did I ever make a connection between Klingons being dark and African-Americans.

As far as the insinuation that the Ferengi are Jewish stereotypes … in the first episode they were introduced, weren’t they directly compared to Yankee traders - y’know, those *white*, mostly American people who would do anything to make a buck? Who lied, cheated, stole, and basically set the foundation for the corporations of today? Again, I never, *never* saw a connection between the Ferengi and racist stereotypes. Wowser.

onejewishdyke: I’m so jealous you got to see what had to be a phenomenal retelling of Othello!

Loosely Twisted: Thank you, thank you for your explanation of blackface! It helped me understand so much about the thought processes behind it, and how to differentiate it from simple thoughtlessness. Thanks again!

… and scrolling up, I see that people have had to deal with racists in fandom. Ick.

I remember somethings from my childhood that
stand out squarely in my mind. The fact that
my little corner of America was completely the same.
That my classes in school, offered no diversity.
Nor did it occur to me that this was not normal.

So when we did relocate to Kentucky, a very southern
state, where plenty of history is written into it’s
residences laws, etc. You cannot avoid learning more
then enough about “Blackface” that you end up
constantly apologizing for another generations
confused morals, and decadence. I honestly believe
that some of the “reverse racism” was started in the
south. The battle of Gettysburg still rages on today
in the Market, In the street, Jobs, everything.

You are lucky if your oblivious to it, you go about
your daily life and unless your a minority, it doesn’t
really effect you. But if your not oblivious to it,
nor purposefully ignorant. You can not avoid the
hate, nor anger directed toward the victims. Blame
the victim is all of our cultures. Not that we want
it that way. But it’s there none the less.

I am not oblivious, and it pains me to have to be
a constant witness to racism, and the reverse.
(though to be honest, they have a reason). Like the
thread I just read about Bullies. (read the thread)

Well, here in the deep south, (though we aren’t
Georgia, the sentiments are very deep) “Blackface”
is only offensive and disgusting when describing the
only jobs fit for sub-humans. Sad, gross and painful

So the dipiction of Barak Obama on SNL, no, that’s
not “blackface”, and the students who were playing
Jackson 5, no not “blackface”. I guess you have to
really LIVE in the racism to understand. There isn’t
a nice way to describe it.

The reason “Blackface” is so so insulting, and vile
is the portral. Whenever you see true “Blackface”
there is always the key of them in subjugated parts.
“The criminal”, “The Rapist”, “The Maid” ,or “Butler”

It literally pains me to even have to explain this part
and I guess that’s also why racial dialog is hard
and gets lost in anger and frustration. Because
there really isn’t any reason for ignorance. None,
we have heaped so much pain, misery and hurt on
different races that you should know the pain your
race inflicts on someone else before you leave 5th
grade. Without explanations, without history dialog.

These are the types of instances found in freaking
DISNEY movies. (Song of the South anyone?)

No the portral of Barak Obama on SNL is not black-
face. No a white person just dressing up as Jackson
5 is not blackface.

Unless they are engaged in the type of portals I
describe. Stereotypes that have constantly and ALWAYS
managed to make white people afraid of black people.

It’s fear, end of story. The entire thing is fear of the
unknown. And as a result, Blackface is and ALWAYS
will be offensive and disgusting. “Blackface”’s original
use and depiction, was used to make whites fear, hate
and loath people of color. What whites hate, they
laugh at, as if they could “win” the race war.

And it is a war. The whites want to rid themselves
of their own sins. Since they can’t do that, they will
drive them down the road tied to the back of a truck
and say and do what ever it takes to wipe them out.

THAT is “Blackface”. The reason behind it. I have lived
here for nigh on 30 yrs now, and nothing has
ever offended me more then seeing a KKK member
dressed in “Blackface”.

One of my ancestors was an Esther; on her gravestone there is an inscription of “After the harvest, there is rest”. That has always stuck with me.