From REP: Black History Month 2025

In February 2025, we are about to enter another Black History Month in a United States which has reaffirmed commitment to “taking America back” to a time when its laws, policies, and cultural practices all reinforced a very specific racial hierarchy. Indeed, this year’s BHM comes on the heels of the new federal administration’s executive order banning DEI policies, practices, etc, “under whatever name they may appear.”  While BRJA’s analysis is anti-racism/anti-oppression – not “DEI” per se – the order will affect anyone working on initiatives related to race and racism (and all the other -isms!), from “DEI” and basic attempts to expand opportunity to the use of a rigorous historical analysis of the United States and its institutions to move towards racial inclusion, equity, and justice.

In the wake of this Executive Order taking America back to a time when the only history acknowledged in the national narrative centered whiteness, Black History Month takes on a special poignancy – and importance. Over the years, BRJA’s Racial Equity Practices newsletter (“REP”) – primarily written by BRJA Co-Founder and Director of Contract Services A. Adar Ayira - has predicted and noted “legislation being openly used as a weapon to protect the traditional – and deliberately distorted – U.S. narrative of its origin and history.” For at least the next four years all indications are that we will move progressively deeper into a landscape in which this prediction is fully actualized on federal, state, and local levels.  Small - or large - consistent action with other people to keep truthful history and anti-racism analysis alive in our spaces is going to be essential.

Looking back over four years of REP, we selected some key points to keep in mind as you and your organizations move into this Black History Month.

THE BACKDROP

For the majority of U.S. history, “ism” policies, practices, and legislation were the norms in schools, faith-based institutions, social clubs, legislative bodies, civic society, and workplaces. There are still many “isms” for which growing awareness has not translated into mitigative policy or changes to more inclusive institutional and structural norms. In fact, we are back to fighting the same battles many thought “won” through the efforts of prior generations.

WHERE DOES BLACK HISTORY MONTH COME FROM?

Carter G. Woodson created Black History Week in 1926 to address the disappearance of the contributions of Black people and Black culture in U.S. class curriculum and society. He also sought to counter the destructive stereotypical and anti-Black representations of Black people in U.S. society. Woodson understood the importance of Black communities ensuring that their youth knew the history that they were not taught in the curriculum developed by white educators for U.S. classrooms.

Black History Week was formally expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

WHAT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH REALLY ABOUT?

Black History Month has always been about more than rote recitations of the accomplishments of African Americans, or “celebrations” thereof. It has also been about asserting and reasserting the basic humanity of Black people in a society that does not value them as such; about African Americans seeing themselves outside of “the white gaze”; and about telling the full story of America’s racialized history of brutality against Black people, as well as Black people’s resilience and history of success despite that brutality.

HOW DO WE GET BLACK HISTORY MONTH WRONG IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS?

In U.S. workplaces, Black History Month is often “celebrated” as a DEI “to do” – with perfunctory greatest-hits lists of famous Black people or diversity-focused “lunch and learns.” The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes in for special mis-treatment, given that his birthday is celebrated a few weeks before Black History Month and in both, a white-washed version of his thought – and a white-washed lie that most white people supported him during his lifetime - are featured.

HOW DO WE GET IT BETTER? THREE REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONS:

• Why does your organization celebrate Black History Month?

  • “Why is this important to OUR organization?” and “for whom (which groups of employees) is this ‘celebration’ intended?” Mooring Black History Month within its original purpose and U.S. history means that the organizational “why” must be one that also reflects upon the organization’s racial history, current practices, and future vision regarding its Black employees.

• What does your organization want to celebrate/honor and acknowledge?

  • “With what do we want each racial group of employees for whom this is intended to walk away?” . . . this acknowledges that different racial groups enter Black History Month in differing places of historical understanding, present day impacts, and emotional resonance.

• How will these messages be communicated, and to whom?

  • Thoughtfully addressing the “why” and “what” will lead to a more impactful and effective “hows.” Some examples would include:

    • An inward review of hiring, retention, and promotion practices regarding their Black staff.

    • Highlighting the organization’s history regarding Black workforce.

    • Honoring the resilience of Black people in the communities in which they work.

We hope that these reflections help you and your organization to take a fresh look at your observance of Black History Month in the context of 2025!