Celebrating Black History Month

October marks Black History Month in the UK, a month to remember and celebrate the achievements and contributions the African diaspora have made to British society. Its origins are rooted in the 1920s and the Negro History Week in the US where Black History Month is celebrated in February. This blog will first cover the origins of Black History Month, noting on why it is celebrated on different months in the UK and the US. Then, it will cover the importance of Black History Month before concluding on how everyone can get involved in the celebrations and in creating a more diverse and inclusive society. 

The origins of Black History Month 

On the 7th February 1926, Carter G. Woodson announced the first Negro History Week in the US to extend the study on African American history and to promote the inclusion of American Black History in the US national public education system. February was chosen since it was the month when both Lincoln and Douglass were born. 

The week gradually evolved into a month, Black History Month as we know it today and in 1976, it was officially recognised by President Gerald Ford. However, it was not until 1987 that the UK held her first Black History Month in London. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanian activist and Special Projects Coordinator for the Greater London Council, was a key figure in bringing Black History Month across the sea. He joined hands with other local activists in the community and successfully organised the celebration. This celebration spread throughout the UK and over time, October has become recognised as UK Black History Month. 

The importance of UK Black History Month

The decision to celebrate UK Black History Month in October instead of February, the month of US Black History Month, was a conscious one. Although UK Black History Month aims to celebrate Black British people, many celebrations were heavily influenced by Black American culture. This could have been due to the origins of Black History Month and the mainstream media content stemming from the US. In the Guardian, Yomi Adegoke expresses this dilemma in the sentence, “If black Britons aren’t fighting our way out from behind the shadow of white Brits, then we’re often attempting to be heard over the ‘black’ discourse usually centred on the black American experience.” 

Choosing October allowed for a more UK-centric celebration and was an act of “staking a claim” according to Ansel Wong, one of the founding members of UK Black History Month. By being free from Americentricism, UK Black History Month could fully honour and celebrate the black history and culture, and their achievements and contributions to the UK. 

How can you celebrate Black History Month?

We must remember that UK Black History Month is the fruit of the efforts of those who recognised the importance and need for a more inclusive world. For Ikigai Authentic, it is an important month that exemplifies the strength and potential of a diverse and inclusive community. How can you and your organisation create a more diverse and inclusive workplace for their Black colleagues?

Firstly, equip yourself with the knowledge of Black history and culture from across the world. For example, educate yourself on the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, and the Windrush generation. Then, listen to the voices and thoughts of your employees. By asking for their thoughts, you can gain valuable insights regarding your workplace and organisation. It will deepen your understanding and shed light on what your organisation needs to work on. Finally, become an ally and take action. Even if you are not part of the Black community, you can be actively involved in celebrating their achievements and working towards a more inclusive community. 

At Ikigai Authentic, we strive to help companies to create a diverse and inclusive work culture to make a business worth working for. As a global diversity and inclusion consultancy firm, we can unleash the potential for diversity and inclusion in your business to achieve greater business growth.