Despite the fiery uprisings of the summer, very little had changed. Brands still didn’t get the picture that they had to do more for Black folks than pay us Black History Month lip service! Here are some suggestions.
Pay Black experts
Many companies love to reference the work of Black experts without giving them credit or compensation. The time is now to push back on this practice and actually pay Black professionals for their industry expertise. Speaking of expertise …
Openly discuss Black issues
Black History Month is the perfect time to host conversations surrounding Black issues – but it shouldn’t stop there! Start with topics relevant to your industry, such as systemic barriers to advancement in senior positions. And keep the conversation going beyond February.
Re-evaluate your initiatives
Remember in the summer of 2020, when all those corporations chased after Black Lives Matter clout and jumped at the chance to host diversity initiatives? Hold leadership accountable for the “inclusive” promises they introduced back then! Don’t let them quietly shutter them now the pressure’s off.
Now’s the time to assess if those diversity initiatives are encouraging real progress or not.
Make a charitable contribution to a Black-led organization
Organizations like PushBlack are doing the work to make sure the Black community receives the financial education it has gone without for far too long. A charitable contribution is something to PushBlack or other Black non-profits is something many employers can easily afford to make.
All of these suggestions are just a few ways to cooperate with the Black community in our fight for liberation!