Eagles and Black History Month
The Eagles Programme was built on diversity, inclusion and fairness. We are proud to work alongside and show solidarity with the many diverse graduates, colleagues and clients that make up the Eagles programme.
Events earlier this year led us to particularly focus on helping pave the way for change for the Black community. Alongside our Eagles alumni, we pledged to lend our support through communicating, appreciating and acting, and we continue to do that through our support of Black History Month.
We asked two of our Eagles to tell us what Black History Month means to them. This is what they told us:
Kenneila Quashie, who completed the Eagles Property management programme in 2008:
“When I came to England at six years old, in year 2 it became very clear that I was different, but it was my strong Caribbean accent that made me stand out, not my race. Growing up in East London, I was surrounded by people from all walks of life, people who looked like me, sounded like me and others who didn’t.”
“My school was multicultural, ensuring they celebrated traditions across the board. Black history month wasn’t just a one-hour tick box exercise. It was months of planning, hiring drummers, dance teachers and motivational speakers. Even bringing in parents to cook cuisines from their homelands.”
“I felt celebrated, important and valued. The teachers represented all races and were very open minded. My school experience was the one place I could truly be myself.”
Tomi Babson, who completed the CSR Eagles programme in 2020:
“Black History Month usually offers us the chance to reflect on the legacy of complex, brilliant and pioneering Black figures in our society. From sports figures to politicians, civil rights activists and so on. There are many more extraordinary black individuals to speak on from artists, musicians and inventors. Quite frankly too many to mention. Nevertheless, it is their courage to provoke change in society rather than just their accomplishments which I find extremely profound.”
“I strongly believe that Black History Month should not be used only as a tokenistic gesture for education and awareness of Black history. But it should reinforce need for a continual open discussion in which we can empathise with one another and understand the challenges that ethnic minorities have faced, continue to face, and the challenges in which we have overcome. I deeply believe the black experience is something that should be explored on a much deeper level rather than just a period of observation.”
“We all should actively seek to understand the stereotypes, inequities and frustration from the unfairness in treatment which black and ethnic minorities experience on a large scale in our society. The disparities we face are very real. Racial bigotry, hate and prejudice still linger in society and must be confronted not just in Black History Month.”
“Lastly, I am proud of ELBA’s proactive nature to address these problems in the work which they do including their Parity Project, Moving On Up programme, educational events and their Eagles graduate programme which specifically targets young ethnic minority members of society.”
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