Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black people in our industry and communities, while also educating our team on how we can grow as allies and stand up against inequality. As such, we seize this opportunity every year and introduce a range of initiatives and events for our team throughout October.
Aligning with this year’s theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, our Black History Month celebrations begin with a colourful and vibrant mural in our reception area, celebrating pivotal Black figures in history who have done just that. Crafted by Julian ArtJaz, this year’s mural features iconic figures such as Jessica Huntley (a pioneer in Black political and social activism), Shaka King (an acclaimed film director, screenwriter, and producer), Dame Jocelyn Barrow (a British educationalist, community activist, and the first Black female governor of the BBC), and many others.
Throughout the month, we will also feature educational lightboxes across our office, giving our team a constant opportunity to educate themselves, along with anti-racism training to equip them with the necessary tools to act in allyship and combat racism. Additionally, we have introduced our Black History Month Book Swap, fostering a culture of learning and understanding around the rich history of the Black community. With this initiative, we encourage our team to bring books written by Black authors that they enjoy and trade these books with others, allowing them to discover new authors, stories, and perspectives. Following this, participants are encouraged to share their reviews and thoughts about the books they have taken, giving our wider team insight into the amazing books they may read in the future.
We will also be reintroducing our annual Black History Month presentation this year, with Ije McDougall sharing her invaluable insights and passion for racial equality and the Black Lives Matter movement. With an extensive career in HR, governmental, and legal roles, and currently working as a Magistrate for the UK Ministry of Justice, Ije McDougall’s lived experiences have paved the way for a unique perspective that we are excited to learn and grow from.
To round off our Black History Month celebrations, we will be hosting our legendary DJ Battles at the end of October, with two DJs going head-to-head, celebrating music by Black artists.
