6 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Your Office
Every year, Black History Month is growing in popularity across USA, Canada and the rest of the world.
The month of February is now a time to stop, reflect and appreciate Black communities in cities, offices and workplaces everywhere.
The History of Black History Month
Carter G. Woodson
Black History Month was established by Carter G. Woodson and he initiated the first celebration on February 7, 1926. As the child of former slaves that couldn’t read or write, Woodson defied the odds and fought for his education.
Entering high school at the age of 20, he later went on to be the 2nd Black American to be awarded a PhD from Harvard University. He chose the month of February for the celebration based on the birthdays of two key people involved in the abolition of slavery, Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass.
In1976 Black History Month finally gained national recognition in the United States. That year, President Gerald Ford said that Black History Month “can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.
Since then, it has become a month-long celebration every February, honoring the accomplishments of Black people in United States history. Black History Month is a tradition that is being recognized around the world, including in Canada in February and in the United Kingdom and Ireland in October.
The celebration of Black History Month is significant because it brings awareness to the accomplishments of Black folks who have added great value to this country. Furthermore, it brings awareness to the struggle for freedom and equality that Black people have faced for centuries.
Here’s why we love to celebrate Black History Month:
We celebrate this month to remember important Black figures who have long been forgotten.
We celebrate this month to show Black youth that they can achieve their dreams, no matter what they may be.
And we celebrate this month to educate everyone about the Black experience.
Statistics About Black Communities
While Black History Month is a time for joy and celebration, it is also a time to recognize the injustices that Black people face every single day in America.
💡DID YOU KNOW:
Here are several statistics from Brookings that show how the Black community is negatively impacted today:
1 in 3 Black families have zero or negative wealth
1 in 3 Black children live in poverty
1 in 1,000 Black men and boys will die at the hands of police
1 in 3 Black men born in 2001 will spend time in prison in their lifetime
1 in 90 Black babies will die before their first birthday
1 in 13 Black Americans of voting age are disenfranchised
Important Firsts for the Black Community
Despite centuries of oppression, the Black community is resilient and has managed to accomplish many unique firsts across a multitude of industries.
Hattie McDaniel was the first Black person to win an Oscar (1940)
Marian Anderson was the first Black member of the Metropolitan Opera (1955)
Charlie Sifford was the first Black person to win a PGA Tour Event (1967)
Shirley Chisholm was the first Black person to campaign for U.S. presidency in a major political party and win a primary/caucus (1972)
Mae Jemison was the first Black woman astronaut (1992)
Ruth J. Simmons was the first Black president of an Ivy League university (2001)
Barack Obama was the first Black president of the U.S. (2008)
Kamala Harris was the first Black U.S. vice-president elect (2020)
Organizing Black History Month Events at Work
WHAT TO DO
✅Reach out to your diversity and inclusion (D&I) team or human resources (HR) department and discuss what resources they have in place to support Black employees.
✅Search your employee resource group (ERG) for Black employees and their allies. If there are only limited resources and you’re looking for ideas, then you’re in the right place!
✅As a leader, have a conversation with Black employees about how to best support them in the workplace. It’s a great time to assess the company’s diversity policy and make it a priority to be diverse and inclusive year-round.
WHAT NOT TO DO
🔇The entirety of Black History Month should not be the responsibility of Black employees. It’s up to everyone to educate themselves on Black History.
🔇Remember that some people may or may not want to participate … and that’s okay.
🔇Be sure not to downplay demographic differences. For example, “colorblind” is not a reason not to celebrate Black History Month. To be colorblind is to dismiss the hardships that Black people (and other people of color) have experienced solely due to their skin color. Differences should be recognized and celebrated, not overlooked.
6 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month at Work
Activity #1: Training Workshop
A Black History Month training workshop is a unique way to provide a hands-on learning experience that requires critical thinking and teamwork. Workshops often require a facilitator to explain the nature of the workshop and how it is to be performed.
If you’re struggling to come up with a workshop topic, think about an issue or issues within the company that could improve the workplace for Black employees if they were addressed.
Activity #2: Guest Speaker
Find a guest speaker to talk to your office about topics relevant to Black History Month. Reach out to an African American Studies scholar and ask them to share their knowledge. They could discuss the history of slavery, the Civil Rights Era or prominent Black figures in history.
Contact an author who has written about topics like Black Lives Matter, the Black Panther Party, mass incarceration, institutional racism, etc. Ask them to discuss their writings and hold a Q&A. Or, have a D&I expert to talk to your office about best practices. Guest speakers increase engagement, inspire learning and create an excellent atmosphere for discussion. If you want a larger-than-life event, hold a panel discussion with several influential guest speakers.
Activity #3: Book Club
Starting a book club is always the right answer. Book clubs create an interactive space where employees can critically engage with a text and grow together.
Each week, book club members will read one or more chapters and meet up to discuss those chapters and answer discussion questions. ⤵️Keep reading to see a prime selection of books perfect for celebrating Black History Month.
📖Here are three great book lists to get you started:
Activity #4: Fundraise and Donate
Fundraising and donating to Black communities will show the company’s support for those communities as well as its Black employees. These actions will establish the company as a diverse and inclusive space.
🔓Check out this list of 20 virtual fundraising ideas and this MEGA-list of organizations that need financial support
Activity #5: Office Movie Screening
Who doesn’t love a good movie? An office movie screening is an excellent way to study Black history. After the screening, gather around and reflect on the meaning, significance and impact of the movie. You can prepare questions or have an impromptu discussion.
🎞️Popular movie choices include:
Activity #6: Trivia Night
Trivia nights are packed with thrills and excellent bonding opportunities. Design your own game format or copy one like Jeopardy and create a set of questions relevant to Black history.
This activity serves to educate employees and spark reflection while celebrating the accomplishments of Black people and the progress of the Civil Rights Movement.
Free Resources for Black History Month
📑Articles
Abigail and Stephan Thernstrom wrote this article on Black progress in 1998 and it still rings true today.
Jessica Graham-LoPresit, Tahirah Abdullah, Amber Calloway and Lindsey West collaborated to deliver this article about racism, stress and how to cope with anxiety.
Jim Ludema and Amber Johnson discuss three do’s and don’ts for allyship in the workplace in this Forbes article.
Melanie S. Morrison discusses white privilege, shame and guilt, and working collaboratively with people of color in this Yale published article.
📚Books
The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man – James Weldon Johnson
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl – Harriet Ann Jacobs
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
Black Feminist Thought – Patricia Hill Collins
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness – Michelle Alexander
How to be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi
So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo
Medical Apartheid – Harriet Washington
The Miseducation of the Negro – Carter Woodson
🎙️Podcasts
Check out our list of the 7 podcasts about race you should add to your playlist
🎬Videos
Angela Bowden gives a Ted Talk for Black women who need to heal from strength and resilience trauma.
Black Professionals Network provides opportunities for Black professionals to connect with one another and fine-tune their skill sets while boosting their career profile.
Lisa Fritsch gives a Ted Talk about “The Angry Black Woman” stereotype.
These young men give a glimpse of their experiences growing up Black.
Black women/femmes discuss microaggressions in the workplace.
Don’t forget to check out CultureAlly’s Black History Month Training!