Black History Month can be traced back to the efforts to research and promote achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent by Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland starting in 1915. President Gerald Ford recognized it in 1972 as an "opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” This original spirit remains important, given the continued oversight and even intentional erasure and/or appropriation of contributions by Black Americans.
But we will not achieve "liberty and justice for all" by giving deserved recognition to the achievements - and suitable mourning to the horrors - of the history of Black Americans, and the history of how white people influenced that Black history.
So this year, alongside the worthy things you may have planned to honor Black History Month, find ways to continue your journey toward antiracism well beyond February 28, in the Me, We, and World dimensions.
NB: this issue is addressed to my white and other non-Black readers. I welcome (as always) Black readers to read on and/or share feedback, but this work is ours to do, not yours.
This cannot just be a month of commemorating Black History. We must build antiracism practices ... [+]
Me
All change starts with us as individuals. No leader who isn’t spending time and energy on their own antiracism journey can possibly guide their team to do so. Start with learning – commit to a daily or weekly learning session, using any of the outstanding and abundant multimedia resources to meet you where you are in your progress toward becoming antiracist. Whether it’s 15 minutes each morning or an hour on Sundays, hold yourself accountable to spending this time and journaling about what you’re learning so that it actually sticks.
Diversifying your Twitter, LinkedIn, or email newsletter feed with Black authors, artists, thinkers, professionals in your feed and others, is a way to facilitate your continued learning
As a way to participate in the moment of February, host a dinner conversation (or Zoom coffee or screenless-walk-and-talk) with family or friends about one of the resources you read. Watch a relevant film or panel and then meet to discuss. Who knows, maybe folks will enjoy the conversation and it’ll become more than a one-off.
We
Make a habit of sharing your own antiracism practice and asking questions that advance your team’s progress. The ways you can share or ask questions may vary depending on your role and team culture, but we all have unique forms of power in different contexts. Start with an action and in a context where you can feel relatively safe. Take inspiration from Jerry Colonna or Valarie Kaur about where those might be.
For those of you with official power, now is the time for bold action. Take initiative to educate yourself about what the best next move might be with these resources curated by B Lab. Do not miss the opportunity of today’s crisis, and be sure to pay fairly for the help you need to advance your team’s antiracism journey responsibly.
Getting a February one-off event done is often even easier than these longer-term efforts. So don't give up on the ongoing work, but if you are in an organization where you don't have power or access to control larger shifts, you can still ride the collective attention and energy generated by Black History Month to hold or support a valuable event, adding at least some level of awareness and education. Making donations is another familiar and broadly accepted form of action that is not without merit – just make sure that your donation goes to an organization led at all levels by the people it is designed to support.
World
Shift your habits to allocate more money to Black people. Change some regular purchase to buy from a Black-owned business; set up a recurring monthly donation to a not-for-profit by and for Black community benefit; and/or reallocate some investment dollars to a Black-owned company or fund.
And in February, while all eyes are on the topic, declare those changes publicly on your social media, via Zoom happy hour, or as a share in a team meeting. Of course, feel free to keep declaring as you keep up the habit, well after February 28.
Let's work toward Black Futures, not just celebrate Black History.
So, happy Black History Month – here’s to powerful pronouncements and commemorations backed by authentic and ongoing change. Let’s work on smart tactics backed up by deep strategies to become antiracist, as people and the organizations we compose. That will unlock beautiful Black Futures, Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham’s title called for by Sloan Leo, for all of us.
So What?
As a result of this purposeful approach to making Black History Month more than a series of tokenistic events, you will advance your journey toward antiracism. It is not an easy or quick path, but it is a human responsibility, particularly for those of us who identify as white and are complicit in unjust and violent systems. Further, there is liberation and joy on the other side for all of us, which is a reward well worth doing the hard work for.
Email us for a free worksheet to begin this process of building purposeful habits, like those required to become antiracist. And read more about how to connect your mundane daily habits to larger purpose here.
