10 Ideas for Black History Month in The Workplace

Black History Month honors the substantial contributions of Black people throughout history. It's a time for reflection, education, and action that promotes inclusivity. This article draws from HR leaders and industry experts to provide ideas for meaningful Black History Month celebrations and activities that can be continued throughout the year.

How to Celebrate Black History Month in The Workplace

Some effective ways to celebrate this special day include hosting educational events and speakers, supporting Black-owned businesses, offering virtual experiences, engaging employee resource groups, and more.

Educational Events Spotlighting Black Leaders

You can organize a series of engaging sessions that spotlight historians, civil rights activists, and influential Black business leaders. These events are a great opportunity for you to promote open discussions on important topics like Black history, equity, and leadership in today’s society. By inviting experts to share their insights and experiences, you’ll help participants gain a deeper understanding of both historical contexts and current challenges.

Consider incorporating interactive workshops, panel discussions, and Q&A segments to encourage active participation and meaningful dialogue. Partnering with local organizations and educational institutions can also help you broaden the reach and impact of these events.

For example, Stryker's African Ancestry Network (SAAN) hosted events throughout February that invited employees to experience Black culture, history, and innovation. Highlights included café takeovers and cultural celebrations, weekly spotlights on Black pioneers, and engaging discussions and events celebrating Black excellence.

Support Black-Owned Businesses

If you're looking to actively support Black-owned restaurants, shops, and services, here are some practical steps you can take:

1. Compile a directory of Black-owned businesses in your area, including restaurants, shops, and services. Make it accessible through community boards or social media.
2. Plan events like food festivals or craft fairs that highlight Black-owned businesses and provide them with a platform.
3. Encourage collaborations between Black-owned businesses and local organizations for fundraisers or charitable events to increase visibility.
4. Create channels for community members to provide feedback on their experiences with Black-owned businesses to foster engagement.
5. Set up programs that encourage shopping at Black-owned businesses, such as loyalty programs or discounts for frequent patrons.

A good example of this is the partnership between Google and the U.S. Black Chambers to launch the BlackOwnedFriday campaign, which celebrates Black-owned businesses and encourages consumers to support them by searching, shopping, and supporting them during the holiday season and all year round.

Create and Share Resources on Black History and Culture

There is so much rich and inspiring content out there celebrating Black voices and stories, and you can play a key role in sharing it! Here’s a roadmap to help you compile and distribute these important materials.

1. Research and collect a variety of resources that showcase Black experiences, including books, films, documentaries, podcasts, and articles. Aim for diverse genres like history, social justice, art, and personal stories.
2. Categorize your materials into sections like “Literature,” “Documentaries,” “Podcasts,” and “Articles.” Write brief descriptions for each resource to provide context.
3. Design a newsletter or digital hub to showcase your curated materials with an easy-to-navigate layout. Establish a regular publishing schedule, monthly or quarterly, to keep everyone updated.
4. Distribute your newsletter or resource hub link through email, social media, and internal platforms. Encourage others to share to amplify the impact.
5. Host discussions, such as book clubs or film screenings, around the content you share. Invite feedback and suggestions for additional resources to make it more inclusive.
6. Feature interviews with creators in your newsletter and celebrate important cultural dates like Black History Month and Juneteenth with tailored resources.

Read More: What the Great Breakup Tells Us about Female Leadership

Engage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Start by reaching out to the leaders of your ERGs early in the planning stage to get their insights and suggestions. This collaborative approach will help ensure your events truly resonate with the interests, values, and cultural significance of the Black community in your organization.

Consider hosting some brainstorming sessions where ERG members can toss around ideas and themes for events that celebrate important milestones, history, and contributions of Black individuals and communities.

For instance, the Black Employee Resource Group at RealPage has successfully organized various events, such as a Jeopardy-style game focused on Black history and culture to celebrate Juneteenth and a Back-to-School Drive in August to collect supplies for students.

Commit to Year-Round Action

While February is often recognized as Black History Month, it's important to keep the conversation going about diversity, equity, and inclusion all year long. Here are some ways you can make sure your efforts stay strong and meaningful:

1. Consider organizing regular diversity and inclusion training sessions that explore topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This could include hosting speaker events, seminars, book clubs, and any other ideas we suggested earlier to showcase a variety of voices and experiences.
2. Make it a habit to assess your HR policies and practices often. Gather feedback from your colleagues through surveys and open forums. This way, you can get a sense of what’s working and what might need a little tweaking.
3. Think about forming partnerships with local organizations focused on DEI. You might support minority-owned businesses or get involved in community service projects that promote diversity. It’s a great way to connect with your community and show your commitment.
4. Prioritize DEI recruitment with diversity hiring tools and HR software. These technologies not only help you remove hiring bias but also enable you to tap into a wide pool of underrepresented talent.
5. Create a psychologically safe workplace where all employees feel empowered to share their perspectives and experiences on diversity and inclusion. This could mean starting employee resource groups, launching mentorship programs, or hosting informal discussion forums for open dialogue.
6. Don’t limit your celebrations to just Black History Month. Recognize and celebrate a variety of cultural events and observances throughout the year. This approach not only highlights the richness of diverse cultures in your organization but also reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity.

Other Great Black History Month and DEI Resources to Check Out

For further reading and resources on Black History Month and DEI initiatives, consider the following articles:

• DEI Initiatives, Programs, and Technology: Thoughts from Black HR Tech Leaders: Insights from Black HR tech leaders on building effective DEI programs and the role of technology.
• The Complete Guide to DEI Hiring for 2025: An in-depth guide covering all aspects of DEI recruitment, including its importance, common mistakes, metrics, and best practices for an inclusive candidate experience.
• Workplace Diversity: Benefits, Importance, & Statistics: An exploration of workplace diversity, its significance, and the benefits it brings to companies and employees.
• ‍Using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Software to Support Initiatives: An overview of how DEI software can aid in hiring diverse talent and fostering an inclusive culture.