In-office activities for Black History Month
One way to honor Black History Month is to choose activities that can take place in the office during normal business hours. The following are some ideas for at-work celebrations.
Partner with Black-owned businesses
You might team up with a Black-owned business in your community to offer something special for your employees. For example, you might order a catered lunch from a Black-owned restaurant.
Educate your team on health and well-being
Disparities in the healthcare system put Black people at a higher risk for many chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. For Black History Month, you can promote a healthier workplace by sharing information about these conditions or even holding an in-office health fair that includes free screenings.
Organize a lunchtime book club
During Black History Month, consider inviting interested employees to join a book club that focuses on the works of Black authors. You can include books such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Book publishers often offer book club discussion topics on their website that you can use to run the meetings.
Recognize Black employees
Highlighting the accomplishments of Black employees can personalize your celebration. With employees’ permission, you can publish profiles about them on your company website or share them via social media.
Related: Phrases for Recognizing Employees: How to Show Your Appreciation
Send Black history trivia email blasts
Sharing Black history trivia through short email messages or postings on office chat apps can keep the celebration front of mind throughout February. You may even want to close out the month with a lunchtime trivia game that tests your team on what they learned throughout the month and awards fun prizes to the winners.
Ask for stories
Inviting Black team members to share their experiences can be a powerful way to celebrate the month. Provide an online form for employees to fill out and allow them to share anonymously if they wish.
Try a lunch and learn event
A lunch and learn is an event where employees bring their own lunches from home or enjoy a catered meal while listening to a speaker or participating in a training session. Consider arranging a lunch and learn event about Black history or diversity and inclusivity for your team to participate in.
Read more: Brown Bag Lunches at Work: Create a Learning Environment
Black History Month ideas for work events
Not all Black History Month ideas for work take place at the office. You can also celebrate the event by organizing after-hours and weekend events. Some ideas for these events include the following.
Hire a motivational speaker
Motivational speakers can energize and inspire your team. To celebrate the month, you might enlist the services of a Black motivational speaker. You can hold the event during working hours, in the evening or on the weekend. In some cases, you may even want to open the event up to the public.
Visit a historical site or museum
Identify a local historical site that connects to Black history or a museum dedicated to it, and schedule a visit for your team. You can charter transportation to travel to the site or museum together or have everyone meet outside at a certain time.
Volunteer as a team
Group volunteering allows your company and your employees to give back to the community and can improve morale, teamwork and job satisfaction. For Black History Month, partner with a nonprofit organization to provide volunteer opportunities to your team. They could volunteer directly, such as helping to distribute food at a food bank, or indirectly by putting together care packages or holding a donation drive.
Related: Giving Back to the Community: Ways Your Business Can Help
Hold a book or poetry reading
Consider inviting a local Black poet or author to share their work at an event held at your office or elsewhere in the community. When possible, arrange for a question and answer session to take place after the reading. If the size of the venue permits, you can open this event up for the public to attend.
Host an art exhibit
Turn the lobby and/or hallways of your building into an art gallery during the month of February. Showcase the works of local Black artists and post biographic information about them alongside their pieces. You can kick off the event with an opening night and invite the artists to attend, so your employees can meet them.
Sponsor a local event
Check local calendars to find out what groups are holding Black History Month events in your area. Then, consider sponsoring. Your sponsorship could be making a monetary donation or providing a prize or having your employees volunteer at the event.
Ways to celebrate Black History Month virtually
Even with remote work, you can still observe Black History Month as a team. The following are some Black History Month celebration ideas that involve virtual gatherings.
Post to social media
Just as you can share Black History trivia with your team, you can also spread awareness publicly via social media. You can simply post a fact or encourage engagement by asking a trivia question and then providing the answer later.
Make a playlist
Consider using a music streaming service to create a playlist of songs by Black artists. Make it available for your employees to contribute and listen to during the day.
Watch a film virtually
Stream a film related to the topic of Black History virtually with your team. Some streaming apps have watch party capabilities built-in, but you can also use third-party apps to view a film simultaneously. For added fun, send your team members a bag of microwave popcorn and movie theater-style candy ahead of time.
Offer virtual inclusion training
Black History Month is the perfect time to educate your team on the importance of diversity and inclusion. Consider scheduling a virtual inclusion training for all employees or management to coincide with the celebration.
Related: What Is an Inclusive Workplace? How to Get Started
Black History Month at work FAQs
When was Black History Month established?
In 1975, President Gerald Ford issued a message encouraging all Americans to participate in a nationwide Black History Week. During the late 1970s, activists encouraged lawmakers to devote an entire month to the celebration of Black history. In 1986, the U.S. Congress answered the call, passing legislation that established February as Black History Month.
What are the benefits of organizing work activities for Black History Month?
Implementing any of the above Black History month ideas for work can benefit your organization. Celebrating Black History can help bolster your workplace inclusivity efforts and improve employee morale. Group activities can also help build trust and empathy among coworkers, strengthening teams. In addition, observing Black History Month sends a positive message to your team, showing that you value diversity and your employees. As a result, activities for Black History Month may cultivate loyalty and improve employee retention.
How should I choose which Black History Month ideas for work to use?
To decide which of the above celebrate Black History Month ideas to implement in your workplace, you should consider your budget and schedule. Get input from your management team, and give Black employees an opportunity to help choose and plan events.
How should employers share details about Black History month events?
To spread the word about upcoming Black History activities, you have a variety of options. You can send emails, have supervisors announce the program, post to messaging apps, such as Slack and Teams, and hang signs in your workplace. For events open to the public, consider sending out a press release to local media and use your social media platforms to make announcements.
