February is Black History Month which is a time to centre and honour the legacies of Black folks. This presents an opportunity for education and celebration. Both of which can be translated into the workplace to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Before hopping into some ideas of what you can do to honour Black History Month at work, let’s go over what to avoid.
Tokenize Black Employees – Tokenism is the act of using one person from a marginalized group as a token to represent the symbolic inclusion of that entire marginalized group. Hiring one Black employee to avoid the appearance of racist hiring practices does not equate to racial diversity.
Performative Allyship – If allyship is genuine advocacy to advance the rights of marginalized groups, performative allyship is the tactical use of activism to advance one’s own public image. Performative allyship is often used during Black History Month by organizations who have fallen under criticism for allegations of racism. In order to undo this scrutiny they utilize disingenuous and surface-level actions of solidarity to paint themselves in a more positive light. This is incredibly harmful as these organizations end up re-prioritizing their own privilege during a month meant to centre racial justice. Any initiatives created during Black History Month should be for the betterment of Black lives, not your organization.
Displacing Work Onto Black Employees – Black History Month can be an emotionally taxing time for Black folks considering the weight of this history. It is unethical for your organization to displace the work of organizing initiatives for Black History Month onto your Black employees alone. This process should engage the opinions of your Black employees whilst offering support and resources where needed.
Now for some potential initiatives and actions you can take in your organization to honour Black History Month!
Support Local Black-Owned Businesses – Get creative in finding ways to collaborate with Black-owned small businesses throughout the month such as partnering with a local restaurant to cater an event you are putting on Black History Month. Supporting these businesses in your area goes a long way and is an excellent opportunity to connect more with your local community.
Host Educational Events – Black History Month is the perfect time to organize a film screening or bring in a speaker to raise awareness on anti-racism. There are many incredible documentaries that cover this but inviting a Black historian, activist, or person in your industry to share their own experiences and knowledge is another great way to build tangible connections with people in your community and support Black folks financially.
Micro-Grants and Donations – Plan a fundraiser to raise money for micro-grants and donations to provide funding to local Black activists, businesses, and organizations that need support.
Internship and Mentorships – Create an internship or mentorship program for Black youth wanting to gain experience in your industry and build their resume.
It goes without saying that efforts to honour Black history and advance anti-racism are not exclusive to the month of February and should extend beyond the confines of the 28 days in this month. However, it’s a great opportunity to kickstart this work if you are yet to begin on the journey of transforming your workplace to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
