Black History Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and immeasurable contributions Black Americans have made on U.S. history and culture. It's also a time to acknowledge the struggles of the past and to recognize the work still ahead as we strive for equity and racial justice.
Though not formally recognized until 1976, Black History Month began decades earlier. The first celebration occurred in February of 1926, when Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson, Founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, sponsored "National Negro History Week." Scheduled for the second week of February - to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas - the event inspired schools and communities to organize local celebrations and host educational lectures recognizing the critical role Black Americans played in U.S culture.
President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, encouraging citizens to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, several countries recognize Black History Month, including Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
JMP (and SAS) is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive workplace. You can read more about these efforts, review the 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion report and learn more about how SAS is celebrating Black History Month in the Inside SAS article, Perseverance, strength, resilience: Recognizing and appreciating Black History.
A month of celebration and conversation
There are a number great opportunities for self-education and additional ways to celebrate Black History Month.
Here are a few ideas.
- Join SAS' Black Initiatives Group (BIG). One of seven Employee Inclusion Groups at SAS, BIG meets every Friday for open conversations around race, to encourage each other, and provide a safe environment for educational and inspirational dialogue. The group encourages participation from anyone who supports BIG's mission to "advance recruitment, development, promotion, and retention of Black talent at all levels at SAS." Learn more about BIG.
- Participate in BIG's special sessions planned for each Friday in February (from noon-1:30 Eastern). The 2023 SAS Theme for Black History Month is resilience and BIG leadership has assembled an incredible series of sessions to address this topic. If you're in Cary, some sessions will be held live in the Executive Briefing Center (get there early); all sessions will be virtual. Here's the schedule:
- Feb. 3 (Hybrid: EBC-150 & virtual) – History & Resilience with guest speakers Dr. Charmaine McKissick-Melton and Floyd McKissick, Jr., who will share first-hand experiences growing up in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and segregated South.
- Feb. 10 (Virtual only)– Love & Resilience.
- Feb. 17 (Virtual only) – Sports & Resilience with special guest, two-time NFL Super Bowl champion coach, Jim Caldwell.
- Feb. 24 – (Hybrid: EBC-150 & virtual) Life & Resilience.
Add the events to your calendar here.
- Watch a documentary. The History Channel has built an impressive list of Black History documentaries which can be found here.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a "Searchable Museum" that allows you to experience exhibitions, read stories and more.
- The African American Heritage portal on the U.S. National Archives website is a great resource for learning more about the Black experience in America.
- Visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In addition to great information about Dr. Woodson's organization and its work, you'll find an extensive calendar of upcoming activities and educational events during the month, nearly all of them can be done virtually.
Of course, the above are just a few suggestions. There are countless ways to recognize and celebrate Black History Month. Please share additional ideas, suggestions and comments below.
Happy Black History Month!
Happy Black History Month!
Some great resources and ideas mentioned in this article. Happy to see that JMP and SAS remain committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace!
