Black History Month at ELBA
Written by Smera Nadeem, Challenge team, ELBA
“You really can change the world if you care enough.”– Marian Wright Edelman
The theme for Black History Month (BHM) 2022 is ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’, ELBA is a keen advocate of Diversity & Inclusion and works with many organisations within the east London community and corporate world to propagate this forward.
With October being BHM, ELBA will be working with partners to deliver BHM activities. We will also be facilitating activities internally for staff to raise awareness of BHM, promote wellbeing and personal perspective. We know many of our partners will be focusing on BHM activities too.
Some BHM facts surrounding its origins for your interest*:
- BHM was first proposed in 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished US slavery
- Initially, BHM was proposed to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. It was dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent
- It began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson – a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher
- In America, the month is celebrated in February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln
- It was also created to improve the public’s study of African American history
- In 1976, the celebration was extended from a week to a month
- The UK started celebrating Black History Month in October 1987
ELBA is excited to see how our employees will explore BHM – what thoughts, feelings and creativity will emerge and what we can put into practice. We wish you every success with your BHM activities, and we thank you for our BHM events delivered in partnership.
For more information, contact smera.nadeem@elba-1.org.uk
*Research from the following sources:
champions-speakers.co.uk/news/5-ways-to-celebrate-black-history-month-at-work
weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/black-history-month-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-need-it/
To stay up to date with the latest news, opportunities and success stories, please sign up to receive our monthly newsletter, here.
