What Star Trek Taught Me About Diversity
I was and am a Trekker. I love Star Trek. Since its inception in 1966, I was plopped in front of our black and white TV to watch the amazing adventures of the crew of the USS Enterprise. I went along with the crew as Star Trek boldly went where few shows dared to go, tackling social issues like poverty, overcrowding, war, racism and fascism head-on and presenting a vision of the future where humanity has overcome its prejudices and hatred.
At the heart of Gene Roddenberry’s vision was a Vulcan philosophy known as IDIC—Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. More than just a catchy sci-fi phrase to Gene, IDIC represented a real-world belief that diversity is not just something to be tolerated but something to be celebrated, valued, and even essential to progress.
Lessons from the Bridge of the Enterprise
In the 1960s, seeing a Black woman, an Asian man, a white man from Idaho and a Russian officer working together on the USS Enterprise was groundbreaking. This diversity was a statement that the future could belong to everyone.
As just one example of the shows real world impact, a little girl named Mae Jemison watching Star Trek in her Chicago home was inspired by seeing someone that looked like her on the bridge of the Enterprise. She was the first African American astronaut to travel into space in 1992.
The Power of Infinite Diversity
The Star Trek universe, like ours, is populated by a dazzling array of cultures, species, and perspectives, each contributing to the richness of life. Diversity—whether in race, gender, culture, experience, or thought—creates stronger communities, richer discussions, and more innovative solutions. Sure, different ideas can cause disagreement and conflict but that can be mitigated if we can come together with an open heart. When we embrace differences rather than fear them, we unlock possibilities that a homogeneous mindset could never reach. The experience of the citizens of the United States of America has proven this to be fact time and time again.
Why IDIC Matters Now More Than Ever
In today’s world, division and polarization are the new normal. Diversity programs are being eliminated at the federal and corporate level. This blog post makes no attempt to debate the value of these programs but it feels to me that the very idea of diversity is now under siege.
Fear of the unfamiliar fuels conflict. But Star Trek reminds us that progress is made when we seek to understand, not when we build barriers. True inclusion means more than just acknowledging diversity—it means appreciating and learning from it. It means fostering workplaces, communities, and conversations where all voices are heard and valued. It also means not tolerating intolerance.
How I Pledge to Honor IDIC in My Life
I hope that we as a nation and as a world will grow to recognize the positive power of diversity and overcome our base impulses to run with our own “herd”. Since I can only control my own mind and actions, I commit to do better and embrace my fellow world citizens with the following actions.
• Listen to diverse perspectives – Seek out stories and viewpoints different from my own as long as they don’t contain hate. I will not tolerate intolerance.
• Celebrate differences rather than erase them – True inclusion isn’t about making everyone the same but recognizing the beauty in uniqueness.
• Challenge biases – Like Spock confronting his human side, I must acknowledge and overcome my own prejudices.
• Build inclusive spaces – Whether at work, online, or in my communities, I will help contribute to environments where people feel safe and valued.
I find it necessary to say that while I commit to embrace differing schools of thought, I will not respect nor embrace world views that believe that hate of another group is a justifiable basis for a worldview.
I believe that Diversity isn’t just a moral good—it’s a necessity for progress, discovery, and a thriving future. If we truly want to “boldly go” into a better world, embracing Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is a great place to start.
Live Long and Prosper,
C.A. Gilchrist – January 2025
At the heart of Gene Roddenberry’s vision was a Vulcan philosophy known as IDIC—Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. More than just a catchy sci-fi phrase to Gene, IDIC represented a real-world belief that diversity is not just something to be tolerated but something to be celebrated, valued, and even essential to progress.
Lessons from the Bridge of the Enterprise
In the 1960s, seeing a Black woman, an Asian man, a white man from Idaho and a Russian officer working together on the USS Enterprise was groundbreaking. This diversity was a statement that the future could belong to everyone.
As just one example of the shows real world impact, a little girl named Mae Jemison watching Star Trek in her Chicago home was inspired by seeing someone that looked like her on the bridge of the Enterprise. She was the first African American astronaut to travel into space in 1992.
The Power of Infinite Diversity
The Star Trek universe, like ours, is populated by a dazzling array of cultures, species, and perspectives, each contributing to the richness of life. Diversity—whether in race, gender, culture, experience, or thought—creates stronger communities, richer discussions, and more innovative solutions. Sure, different ideas can cause disagreement and conflict but that can be mitigated if we can come together with an open heart. When we embrace differences rather than fear them, we unlock possibilities that a homogeneous mindset could never reach. The experience of the citizens of the United States of America has proven this to be fact time and time again.
Why IDIC Matters Now More Than Ever
In today’s world, division and polarization are the new normal. Diversity programs are being eliminated at the federal and corporate level. This blog post makes no attempt to debate the value of these programs but it feels to me that the very idea of diversity is now under siege.
Fear of the unfamiliar fuels conflict. But Star Trek reminds us that progress is made when we seek to understand, not when we build barriers. True inclusion means more than just acknowledging diversity—it means appreciating and learning from it. It means fostering workplaces, communities, and conversations where all voices are heard and valued. It also means not tolerating intolerance.
How I Pledge to Honor IDIC in My Life
I hope that we as a nation and as a world will grow to recognize the positive power of diversity and overcome our base impulses to run with our own “herd”. Since I can only control my own mind and actions, I commit to do better and embrace my fellow world citizens with the following actions.
• Listen to diverse perspectives – Seek out stories and viewpoints different from my own as long as they don’t contain hate. I will not tolerate intolerance.
• Celebrate differences rather than erase them – True inclusion isn’t about making everyone the same but recognizing the beauty in uniqueness.
• Challenge biases – Like Spock confronting his human side, I must acknowledge and overcome my own prejudices.
• Build inclusive spaces – Whether at work, online, or in my communities, I will help contribute to environments where people feel safe and valued.
I find it necessary to say that while I commit to embrace differing schools of thought, I will not respect nor embrace world views that believe that hate of another group is a justifiable basis for a worldview.
I believe that Diversity isn’t just a moral good—it’s a necessity for progress, discovery, and a thriving future. If we truly want to “boldly go” into a better world, embracing Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is a great place to start.
Live Long and Prosper,
C.A. Gilchrist – January 2025
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