13 Black History Month Ideas for a Virtual Workplace
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the contributions made by Black people and is a chance to recognize and acknowledge how their achievements have shaped our societies. It’s commemorated around the world, with celebrations taking place in February in the United States and Canada and in October in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the history, culture, victories and struggles of Black people.
Taking one month to focus on the Black community is both a symbolic and practical way of honoring the contributions of the community, so we highly encourage your company to take part in it. And, with 58% of U.S. Black professionals encountering racial prejudice at work, it’s important to celebrate and empower your Black employees and make your workplace more empathetic and inclusive. Every employee, regardless of race, gender, or age, should feel respected and valued at work. Taking time to acknowledge Black History Month in your workplace offers a chance to celebrate Black culture and promote a culture of diversity and inclusivity.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month was celebrated for the first time in 1976 in the United States, but its history reaches back 50 years earlier. In February 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson and members of his association, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, organized a Negro History Week in order to focus on and showcase the contributions of African Americans in the United States. They chose the second week of February because it coincided with the birthdays of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and African American orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Since then, Black History Month has been established in Canada for the same month in order to commemorate the legacy and history of Canadians of African descent. Black culture and heritage are also celebrated in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with celebrations taking place in October. See below for more Black History Month facts.
To help you and your employees celebrate, commemorate, and learn about the occasion in a thoughtful way, we have prepared a list of Black History Month virtual activities you can organize in your workplace.
Black History Month Trivia Game
- Pricing: £399/$499
- Group size: 8-500
- Duration: 60 mins
The Black History Month Trivia Game celebrates famous Black figures and reminds us of their contributions to world history and culture – whether through writing, music or in countless other fields. The trivia enables teams to gain insight into the rich culture created by generations of African descent.
If you’re looking for an activity that will help your team understand their colleagues from diverse backgrounds, we recommend giving this activity a try. The trivia game contains 5-6 Black History Month themed mini-games constructed in a way that encourages meaningful discussion and participation. It’s designed as an educational tool which supports the development of a more inclusive and diverse workplace.
DEI consultations and/or workshops
Black History Month is a great opportunity for a company to revisit their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies in order to ensure that they are actually successful in making the workplace a safe and inclusive space for all employees.
Diversity and Inclusion Consulting
- Pricing: £1383/$1699
- Group size: 2-300
- Duration: 60 mins
Depending on your company’s needs, this customizable consulting session can provide you with various assistance in strengthening your company’s DEI policies. It can help you create employee surveys, establish both internal and external communication plans, and/or work with executives on creating strategic corporate goals in relation to DEI policies.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop
- Pricing: £1383/$1699
- Group size: 1-499
- Duration: 60 mins
This session will help your employees focus on fostering a culture of collaboration among workers while embracing differing viewpoints. The experienced and helpful facilitator can adjust the workshop to match your company’s needs. They will work with the group on enhancing interpersonal skills, expanding vocabulary with new terms and concepts, and building a respectful workplace. It will give your employees the tools they need to feel more empowered and confident at work.
Support Black-owned businesses
One way to celebrate Black History Month is by supporting Black-owned businesses. Were you planning to prepare new welcome packs at your company? Perhaps you were thinking of sending appreciation packages to all your employees? Or maybe you simply want to have a virtual meal with all your employees? Whatever it is, you can make sure that you order from Black-owned businesses.
Black-owned businesses often face unique challenges in the business world, and supporting them can help break down barriers and increase opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. Sites like Etsy can help you filter shops to find those owned by Black entrepreneurs. There are also specialized directories that can help you search for Black-owned companies.
Donate to causes that help the Black community
Supporting a community by donating to causes that help strengthen them and raise awareness about the issues they’re facing is another way of contributing. You can choose to support well-known Black-led organizations, such as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month, or The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). You can also use pages like Support Black Charities that can help you find the right charity to support. Ask your employees which cause they would like to support for the best engagement.
Donating money is the simplest way of supporting the cause, but don’t stop there. Once you’ve chosen the organization you want to support, you can invite a representative to come and speak about their cause to spread awareness and further support their work.
Celebrate the culture
Celebrating Black culture is a way to honor and recognize the contributions of Black individuals and communities to today’s society, so include cultural celebrations in your Black History Month activities as well.
Read on to find some ideas on how to celebrate the Black culture, but whether you decide to read a book, listen to a podcast, or watch a movie, follow it up with a discussion to talk about the issues mentioned in the piece. This way, you can support inclusivity and encourage other types of employee-led programs that support diversity and celebrate Black voices. Keep a list of resources available throughout the year, so it can be accessed and built up over the months.
Read a book
Including a reading activity in your Black History Month celebration can be a powerful way to get to the heart of what it means to be Black society. Reading can help nurture a great understanding of the experiences of Black men and women. This can be a very effective way to help your employees develop the empathy and collaborative spirit that are foundational to diverse and inclusive corporate cultures.
If you’re looking for inspiration, this TED speakers recommendation list will surely come in handy. The list also includes links to TED Talks done by Black speakers, so we encourage you to watch and share these too.
Listen to a podcast
A podcast is a great format for learning something new and expanding your knowledge. They can serve as a conversation starter on topics that matter to the Black community or become a base for a discussion panel. The great thing about podcasts is that they’re usually an ongoing thing, so your learning doesn’t have to stop on Black History Month.
Use this list to find the best podcasts to listen to and use to foster discussion in your company.
Play some music
African American music has had such a profound influence on America’s history that in June 2000, the U.S. House of Representatives officially declared the month to be African-American Music Appreciation Month. Although we strongly encourage you to mark that date in your calendar as well, you can add a musical celebration to your Black History Month activities too.
Many playlists, including this one on Spotify, will help you and your coworkers and employees learn about Black music icons. You can also encourage your employees to create their own playlists for the month and share them if they wish.
Watch a movie
Watching a movie written, directed, or starring Black artists is another great way to commemorate Black History Month. Documentaries, biopics or historical dramas – there are many movies that can help you and your employees gain insight into the Black experience. Use services such as WatchParty to watch a film at the same time as other coworkers. This list will help you choose which movie to watch.
Go on a virtual tour
A visit to a museum can be a powerful way to enhance your employees’ understanding and appreciation of the history, culture, and contributions of the Black community. It’s a valuable and educational experience, and nowadays, it can be done virtually. For the Black History Month virtual museum tour, you can visit The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture or The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. You can also use the Google Arts&Culture feature to explore other Black-centred exhibitions, stories, and other cultural resources.
Spread the word
Taking part in Black History Month can be as simple as sharing an acknowledgement about the occasion. Are you sending out company newsletters? Include a blog article with information on Black History Month. Encourage your readers to read a book by a Black author or listen to a podcast. Include links to sites such as NAACP or ASALH, which offer a lot of information and resources about racism.
If your company is on social media, you can use this powerful tool to share a series of posts about notable figures from the Black community and their contributions to society. Encourage your audience to dig deeper into the stories by sharing a book, a movie, or other resources. You can also link to Black-led charities, businesses and organizations.
This can also serve as an opportunity to let your company’s Black employees be heard. You can ask your Black employees to share their personal stories about how they achieved professional success or give them the opportunity to reflect on what Black History Month means to them. However, remember it is not obligatory for them to share anything about their experience.
If you’re unsure what you can share, look below at the list of quotes by famous Black figures. Something as small as a quote can be thought-provoking and can encourage someone to learn the story behind it.
Don’t stop here
Studies are clear that companies that are more diverse, not only when it comes to racial and ethnic diversity but also in relation to gender, age, sexual orientation, and experience, perform better. So while you are celebrating diversity at your workplace, be sure to consider all the communities that make up your organization. See below what you can do.
Support your female employees
Leadership Acceleration Workshop
- Pricing: on request
- Group size: 2-200+
- Duration: 60 mins
These workshops are aimed to support women leaders in your organization to become high-performing managers. Led by women, they encourage and empower your female employees to become more confident in their leadership positions. 1:1 coaching sessions allow the facilitator to tailor the experience to the individual needs.
Support the LGBTQIA+ community
Pride-themed Ice Breaker
- Pricing: from £16/$22 pp
- Group size: 8-500
- Duration: 60 min
To promote inclusivity in your workplace, organize an activity for your LGBTQIA+ community. Very often, the stories of Queer Black communities are erased from the mainstream narrative, even during Black History Month or Pride Month, so don’t skip those stories in your celebrations. Pride-themed customization of our best-selling icebreaker for teams will not only help your team get closer to each other but, most importantly, will help create a more welcoming and understanding work environment.
Final thoughts
Black History Month was started as a response to the lack of recognition for the contributions of the Black community. It has now become an international observance, a movement that commemorates, highlights, and celebrates the achievements of Black people. It’s important to not only reminisce about the past but also to see the struggles the Black community faces today and to continue building a just society.
We hope you will revisit our list of Black Month virtual activities every month of the year, so the commemoration is not limited to a single moment but becomes an all-year celebration.
FAQ
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual observance that celebrates the accomplishments of the Black community and seeks to bring awareness to the issues they still face today. It’s a time to acknowledge the contributions that Black people have made to history, culture and society. It’s officially celebrated in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Why is Black History Month in February?
Black History Month is celebrated in February to honor the birthdays of two black civil rights leaders: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. They were born just five days apart in February of 1818 and 1809, respectively.
Black History Month is celebrated in February to honor the birthdays of two black civil rights leaders: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. They were born just five days apart in February of 1818 and 1809, respectively.
Why is it important to celebrate Black History Month at work?
Black History Month is a time to come together and celebrate the achievements of the Black community. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the history of Black people, and how they have shaped our societies. It’s also a chance for employees to share experiences and stories around race and diverse identities. It can also be a way to support Black employees by working towards a more inclusive company culture. It helps break down stereotypes, and it’s a chance for coworkers to grow stronger relationships.
How can you celebrate Black History Month with your remote team?
You can celebrate Black History Month with your remote team by organizing a series of events that focus on the Black community. You can center your activities on history, highlighting the important historical figures that helped shape today’s society. You can focus on art and culture by reading a book by a Black author, watching a movie, sharing a podcast, or virtually visiting a museum, such as The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. You can also support Black-led businesses and charities. Lastly, you can spread the word using your company’s newsletter or social media.
