Mack and the Burp Effect
In the midst of ongoing protests sparked by the unjust murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and other African Americans, I stumbled upon a profound story that resonated deeply with me. Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle” unveiled a thought-provoking tale about power, ambition, and the courage to stand up against injustice. As I reflected on the story, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to African Americans and other marginalized people’s issues of injustice. There are key lessons we can learn from Yertle, Mack, and the turtles in the stack, and how their experiences mirror our own.
Yertle built up a kingdom in the pond by stacking all of the other turtles on top of each other. He ignored their cries for relief. Ultimately, Mack, a turtle at the bottom of the stack, burped, intentionally, destabilizing the entire stack causing it to collapse.
We have seen this many times in our society. Whether it was the Enron crisis or the Wells Fargo crisis, or Facebook, it was the “burp”of someone on the lower level of the hierarchy that caused the collapse of the empire.
Yertle, the ambitious king of the pond, represents those in leadership positions who prioritize their own agenda while disregarding the concerns of their subordinates. The turtles in the stack symbolize those who passively endure unjust treatment, absorbing the weight of the system. Finally, Mack embodies the individual who takes action, refusing to accept the status quo and challenging the oppressive regime.
Which one best represents you?
Before Mack burped in the Dr. Seuss story, he attempted to reason with the King of the Turtles, expressing the need for equality and recognition. Yertle’s detachment from the realities faced by those at lower levels of the organization prevented him from understanding the impact his actions had on us. This disconnect is often prevalent in matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion at higher levels of leadership.
Marginalized individuals in the society, like the turtles in the stack, began sharing their experiences, revealing a shared environment of oppression, suppression, and disregard.
The reality is change can come from the top, through conscious choices made by those in power, or from the bottom, through revolutions sparked by individuals who refuse to accept injustice. Such revolutions may take the form of resignations, whistleblowing, declining profitability, or tarnished reputations. The choice is ours to make, as we strive for a more equitable and just society.
By drawing inspiration from Mack’s courage and determination, we can create a society that values diversity, promotes equity, and ensures inclusion for all. Guard Your Gates.
Guard Your Gates 