LH is right, IMO.

I recall watching it when it first hit the TV screen. Blown away. Here was a world divided along lines of race, creed, colour, religion, etc., and here was a hit show with bloody awful special eefects (by today's standards) that espoused a future (a now) that included people of all descriptions. I met people twenty years later who would sooner dine on deer turds and rabbit fur than miss a Trekkie convention. I think also that Star Trek opened up TV to other possibilities--and it let the Networks know that there was a market available in TV that showed folks in the light of equality--regardless of whatever else they might be or have. Women holding positions of authority on the Enterprise, Spock with his ears and coldly-logical manner (met him while working for McCarthy in 1967 (?) and recall being a bit disappointed that his eras were not pointy), etc.

Star Trek wasn't great theatre, but it captured the imaginations of lotsa people and that's gotta count for something. Hey, would ya rather watch Jerry Springer?