Hello again! It's Dr. Jean Latting.
I’m a long-time Trekkie, from the original series in 1966 through the nearly dozen spinoffs.
The Star Trek universe taught us valuable lessons about a paradox of human nature: On the one hand, we have an instinctual preference to gain nurturance and support from our own cultural group. On the other, instead of fearing those in different cultures, we can learn how to leverage the strengths of each to accomplish our organization’s mission together.
The Star Trek universe ingeniously addresses this duality, with its ensemble cast hailing from various species and cultures who openly celebrate and use their cultural differences to achieve their goals. Vulcan logic complements human passion as Mr. Spock tempers Captain Kirk’s impulsivity, and the Klingon Worf’s courage balances the Betazoid Deanna Troi’s empathy.
United on the Starship Enterprise, they showcase a remarkable model of cooperation and mutual respect, demonstrating how unity of purpose can emerge from diversity and inclusion.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. A continuing plot in most episodes has one or more species somewhere in the galaxy attempting to dominate others. The crew of the Enterprise stands in stark contrast to all of this animosity and contention across the galaxy, as they successfully juggle their cultural differences to accomplish their mission of exploration and peace.
Both gender and racial equity have been staples in all 12 of the series, beginning with the original series featuring Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Nichelle Nichols debuting as the first African American woman to have a prominent role on television.
Star Trek premiered a year after the Civil Rights Act of 1965 was passed. We were newly hopeful that we could overcome. And here was Nichols starring as Lt. Commander Uhuru during an era when Blacks on television were shown mostly as servants or buffoons.
The latest episode, Star Trek: Discovering New Worlds, premiered in 2022 and is a prequel to the original series, featuring younger versions of the original cast including the iconic Uhuru, now played by Celia Rose Gooding.
In Season 2, Episode 1 (“The Broken Circle”), Uhuru is confronted by a male crew member who demands she move aside from her station so he could do his own important work.
She was not having it and refused to yield to his assertion of male dominance. She responded firmly, “I have a job to do. This is my station. If you don’t mind.” And turned back to her desktop.
The man moved on.
Two women crew members noticed the exchange and gave her and each other approving head nods.
It was a delightful moment, befitting our strong and courageous Uhuru and her two supportive peers. Even on the mythical, culturally sensitive Star Trek, women must stay vigilant to not allow themselves to be overpowered by men who have been conditioned to assume their work is more highly valued than ours.
The shared nods among the women created a moment of I-am-woman-hear-me-roar tribalism, without diminishing the value all members of the Enterprise bring to their common mission.
No one on the Enterprise wonders why a group of Vulcans may choose to chat together in the cafeteria, or why women may choose to smile approvingly at one another. No one is threatened when members of one tribe (gender, race, species, sexual orientation) ban together for a moment in celebration of their culture. They understand the value of this support, yet trust their crew members will be with them when danger comes, regardless of tribe.
The story of the Enterprise teaches us that embracing diversity doesn't mean erasing our identities or forsaking our tribal bonds. Instead, it means learning from one another, respecting the richness of each person's background, and finding ways to work harmoniously despite those differences.
It may be science fiction, but Star Trek models how unity and diversity may coexist.
Could we bring that same spirit to our teams? Does this happen in your organization or team? If so, hit reply and tell me how. Or if not, tell me why not. We may publish your responses in a future Reflections. If you wish to remain anonymous, just say so.
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Dr. Latting has 20+ years of consulting and teaching experience for private and public sector organizations and is an experienced speaker and workshop host. She is available to virtually speak to groups including executives, managers, individual contributors and community leaders to widen their multi-cultural awareness.
