He’s been a Christmas icon for 85 years now and the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has never been more relevant. The character was created by copywriter Robert L. May for the Montgomery Ward department store to cheer kids during the Depression and to celebrate individuality. After his poem was a hit in print, May asked his brother-in-law Johnny Marks to create a song, which became a huge hit for singer Gene Autry in 1949, and the animated version in 1964 is still the longest-running holiday special on TV. Fun fact: the puppets were animated in Tokyo and the actors’ sound recording was done in Toronto!
But here’s what people don’t know about this beloved classic: it’s a perfect story about diversity, equity and inclusion. Rudolph’s bright shiny red nose makes him a target for discrimination by the pack of reindeer, who bully and ostracize him. Even Santa Claus ostracizes Rudolph at first, until the great annual task of flying presents around the world becomes jeopardized by a thick fog. Santa discovers that Rudolph’s unique nose is a valuable asset as a bright beacon. Putting Rudolph at the head of his sleigh to guide through the fog allows the other reindeer to succeed as a team (equity!) and soon he is loved and included by everyone as a valuable member of the pack. Rudolph’s difference is finally seen as a plus, not a minus, and this “DEI hire” literally saves Christmas.
I shared this story on LinkedIn and was gratified by the pleased responses from people I respect, like DEI practitioner Natasha D. Wade, DiversiPro president Hamlin George and executive coach Eva Steortz who said, “Thanks for making such an on-the-nose point!” I see what you did there, Eva! And of course, there were also the predictable people jumping in to decry “wokeness,” one guy bizarrely condemning DEI for its “Marxist undertones.” As I just explained, the Rudolph story is literally about an employee helping his boss achieve the organization’s goals, what could be more capitalist?
Cultural historian Ronald D. Lankford, Jr. described RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER in 2013 as "the fantasy story made to order for American children: each child has the need to express and receive approval for his or her individuality and/or special qualities. Rudolph's story embodies the American Dream for the child, writ large because of the cultural significance of Christmas.”There’s a moral to this story, say the legendary duo of Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald in their delightful version of Johnny Marks’ song:
The work that Breakfast Culture does in advancing belonging and inclusion in the workplace is rooted in that dream of everyone having a fair opportunity to work hard and succeed. It’s not about hiring quotas but rather developing a successful workplace culture that Trevor Wilson, creator of the human equity management model, classifies as a “Level 5,” one that not only treats people based solely on the content of their character but actually capitalizes on individual differences to unleash maximum human potential and self-actualization, contributing to an economy that works for everyone. We strive towards a culture in which no worker is held back by foolish discrimination in skin colour, gender, religion, sexuality, disability or, in this famous case, a big bright red nose.
Whatever you might be celebrating in this holiday month, we hope it’s bright and merry and we wish you all the warmth and joy of the season as we prepare for a productive 2025. We’re taking a break until January 6 but please sign up for our free webinar on January 23rd and tell your colleagues. If you want to learn more, please schedule a talk with me today: https://calendly.com/jefferson7/30min
Let's Break Some Eggs!
– Jefferson Darrell, Founder and CEO, Breakfast Culture™ Inc.
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