Surviving Black History Month at Work: A Black Woman’s Guide

I’ve never said this out loud. But every year around this time, I start to feel a slight sense of slight dread. I dread the extra attention on a subject that is often ignored the rest of the year. I dread the parade of celebration for the 5–10 Black Heroes that everyone knows while the cannons of the rest of Black History go undiscussed. I dread the praises of the past long ago, while remarkably absent, are the celebrations of the contributions of the history of Black people who work at that particular company — the ones who laid the path for every Black person that came after them.

Complicated. That’s the best way to describe being Black Woman working in Corporate America. It’s challenging to navigate a system not built by you or for you. Now add to it the beauty of a month designed to celebrate your cultural history. Juxtaposed into a context that doesn’t always understand how that history impacts you the other 11 months of the year.

And here’s the twist. I also savor seeing my culture represented on center stage at the companies I’ve worked for. I am grateful for the programs, cultural celebrations, donations and, mindfulness that this month will bring. This is the one time of the year I’m more comfortable wearing my headwraps to work or sharing my family’s soul food recipes with eager foodie colleagues.

That’s the duality I and many of your Black colleagues live in every day at work during Black History Month. So now that we’ve put this duality on the table. How do we manage it? I’ve decided to anticipate and manage these emotions proactively. Here is my advice for surviving Black History Month at Work, both for my Black and non-Black colleagues.

Black Colleagues:

Make this Month Yours.

This month is to celebrate your history. And sometimes, even with the best intentions, there can be programs and comments that are wonky or insensitive or just plain not interesting to you. It is not your responsibility to champion or participate in every part of Black History month at work or in your personal life. Remove yourself from that burden and pressure. Do what feels comfortable and engaging to you. Create your own track, and don’t let anyone make you feel wrong about how you choose to celebrate.

Have a Check-in Buddy.

With everything that’s happened last year and this year and still amid a pandemic, there’s just a lot of rollercoaster emotions happening. I feel them too. Find ways to center yourself and have a buddy for intentional check-in’s when your feelings get complicated. The key is that this is someone who either understands your experience in Corporate America OR, at a minimum, is just a safe, great lister. You don’t need someone who will try to fix it or tell you you’re overthinking it or reading too much into it. Protect your emotional space this month.

Reclaim Black Joy.

This month is not just about the struggle or the distant history. It’s also about joy, triumph, success, love, creativity, and connectedness. Find something every day to celebrate this month from US history, your family history, your personal work history. And embrace creative ways to express it. For me, I’m editing old family photos to celebrate my own family history. And joining a Paint Night w/Soul Palette, my job is hosting to unleash my creativity at work.

Other Colleagues and Allies:

Learn something new about Black History

At this point, hopefully, we all know about Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman. But there are thousands of stories; challenge yourself to learn something different. Here are a few topics and people you may not know about.

• Black Wall Street
• Claudette Covin, the woman who came before Rosa Parks
• Why Historically Black Colleges & Universities exist
• Bass Reeves, the man who inspired the Lone Ranger

Celebrate Who You know

Consider ways you can celebrate the history of Black people who have worked and currently work at your company. Black History is not just about those that have impacted society or lived a long time ago. It’s also about the living history of the people you work alongside every day. So consider how you can celebrate your colleague’s history at work. It could be giving them a platform to share their stories. Or openly acknowledging the accomplishments they’ve made.

Lead with empathy and openness

We’ve come off a challenging year for us all. Now add into that the long-standing systemic racism that still is embedded in every part of our society. Be sensitive to that context your Black colleagues exist in. And find a place of authenticity for you in celebrating Black History Month. If you love food, ask your Black colleagues the role food has played in their history and culture. If you love sports, strike up a conversation about Black Athletes’ incredible contributions to the sports world. Be real if you’ve never had these convos before, don’t try to be a Black History Month champion all in one day. And start with the subjects that resonate with you.

Black history month is a beautiful celebration filled with complicated emotions. Let’s be honest about those with ourselves and each other. Let’s hold the duality of all that this month brings.

Let’s come out of it, having not just having learned more about and celebrated Black History but embracing and carrying forward the living history Black people are creating at work every day.