Editor’s note: Read the complete story on InsideSAS.
February is a time to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) — a dedicated period to reflect on the history, achievements, and impact of Black culture and heritage. It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing work needed to achieve the equal treatment and greater equality that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other Civil Rights pioneers fought for. BHM was founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a scholar and historian often called the “Father of Black History,” in 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, two prominent Civil Rights figures at the time. Dr. Woodson wanted to spotlight the contributions of African American contributors to society, which had often been overlooked in mainstream education.
In the 1960’s as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, young African Americans students pushed for a month-long celebration of Black history. In 1976, on the 50th anniversary of Negro History Week, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) officially made the switch to Black History Month. President Gerald Ford issued a proclamation recognizing Dr. Woodson’s work and highlighting the importance of honoring the often-overlooked achievements of Black Americans across all fields.
Building BIG community at SAS
As part of our parent company, SAS, we value the unique talents, ideas and perspectives our Black employees bring to the table, and we’re excited to highlight them. Through focused outreach, programs and engagement, SAS is working to increase representation of Black and African American employees. Currently, 7.2% of US employees self-identify as Black or African American, with Black employees making up 6.3% of our US tech workforce and 3.5% of our US managers.
While we are proud of the progress we’ve made improving representation at all levels, we recognize that there is still work to be done. We are committed to hiring talent from varied backgrounds and supporting the growth and retention of our current employees. Check out the 2024 Diversity & Inclusion report for more information.
One way SAS engages with our Black community is through BIG – one of our seven Employee Inclusion Groups. The Black Initiatives Group (BIG), formed in 2018 and led by the BIG Leadership council, is dedicated to empowering Black employees to bring their full selves to work, to highlight their talents and contributions and to inspire young Black talent to pursue careers in STEM. BIG welcomes anyone passionate about strengthening the culture of inclusion and belonging at SAS.
Since June 2020, following the death of George Floyd, BIG has hosted “BIG Fridays,” a 90-minute virtual, candid conversation to better understand the Black experience at SAS and beyond. BIG Fridays have become a key part of the SAS culture, drawing in large crowds and fostering unity. BIG Friday often includes music, games, guest speakers, executive participation and rich conversation, highlighting the dedication, hard work, and achievements of the Black community. All are welcome to attend the sessions. Add to Calendar
BIG has played a key role in advancing our diversity and inclusion efforts, from supporting talent attraction and outreach, to advising on policies like observing MLK Day as a US company holiday and promoting inclusive language in our software. They also helped launch the SAS Championship HBCU Invitational and the Data Ethics Practice, ensuring SAS and our customers develop and deploy software that promotes human well-being, agency and equity. BIG continues to be a vital asset to SAS!
BIG at the RTP Black Professionals Network Collective along with employees from several Black employee groups from local companies.
Black History Month 2025 activities
The SAS BIG Black History Month theme this year is Building BIG Community. Various events and initiatives will be going on this month to celebrate community, heritage and well-being, including activities at the RFC, a featured entrée every Thursday in the A Terrace Café inspired by an historic Black American’s favorite dish, book club discussion and engaging BIG Friday chats about breaking barriers, love and marriage, and historical landmarks in the Carolinas. Don’t miss out. Follow BIG on Viva Engage for all the event details!
Join in on this month's book club!
BIG and ABLE, the SAS All Abilities Network, recently enjoyed lunch and candid conversations with the 2025 Company Kickoff keynote speaker, Lex Gillette, four-time Paralympic long jump world champion. BIG and ABLE invite you to join them in reading and participating in a virtual discussion later this month about Gillette’s speech and book, No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision. Not a big reader? No worries, come for the discussion, anyway.
BIG Leadership Council and members enjoyed lunch with CKO Speaker, Lex Gillette.
In his book, Lex reveals the steps he’s taken to see beyond reality, face challenges, and surpass expectations, including his own. From the C-suite to the classroom, you’ll learn how to embrace your individual journey, eliminate negative thinking, and strategize for the present and future with goals only you can truly see. The path forward is filled with opportunities for growth. This book is your chance to develop a new perspective, maximize potential, and turn the impossible into temporary barriers that you can, and will, overcome.
Join the discussion!
Learn more about book club and past titles.
Black history is American history. We look forward to connecting and learning together. See you at BIG Friday!
