
Here is our list of the best Black History Month celebration ideas.
Black History Month celebration ideas are different ways to celebrate and honor the achievements of the Black community throughout history. Examples include volunteering events, mentoring programs, and lunch-and-learn sessions. The purpose of these activities is to bring your team together while promoting workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
These ideas are similar to examples of online Black History Month ideas, diversity and inclusion activities, and online event ideas.
This list includes:
- Black History Month ideas for adults
- Black History Month activities
- Black History Month games
- Black History Month event ideas
Let’s get to it!
List of Black History Month celebration ideas
From keynote speakers to lunch-and-learn sessions, here are our top Black History Month celebration ideas for the workplace.
1. Year-round pledge
Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate the Black community. However, your DEI efforts should extend far beyond this month. We recommend taking a pledge to foster diversity and inclusion at your company year-round.
In your pledge, you should note key initiatives your company is taking, such as evaluating hiring processes, facilitating quarterly diversity training, and using inclusive language in the workplace. Making a pledge to prioritize DEI throughout the year is an ideal way to build trust among your team.
2. Wall of quotes
If you want to motivate employees, then we recommend creating a wall of quotes. To create your wall, hang a whiteboard in your office. Then, invite team members to write their favorite quotes from influential Black figures.
For example, quotes may include:
- “We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation’s greatness.” – Yvette Clarke
- “It isn’t where you come from; it’s where you’re going that counts.” – Ella Fitzgerald
- “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass
- “We will all, at some point, encounter hurdles to gaining access and entry, moving up and conquering self-doubt; but on the other side is the capacity to own opportunity and tell our own story.” – Stacey Abrams
- “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker
- “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” – Malcolm X
- “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama
- “Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.” – James Baldwin
- “Truth is powerful and it prevails.” – Sojourner Truth
- “One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.” – Michelle Obama
- “I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.” – Serena Williams
Be sure to leave your wall of quotes up through the end of February. This initiative is a great way to keep employees motivated and inspired throughout the month.
3. Moments and milestones
If you are looking for impactful activities for your celebration, then we recommend playing moments and milestones. You can begin the activity by sitting in a circle with your team. Next, ask each member to share an important moment in Black history. For example, one employee may share that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863, ending slavery.
Moments and milestones is the perfect activity to kick off Black History Month. This activity can also help employees begin a discussion on important moments in Black history.
4. Amplifying voices campaign
If you want to recognize and honor your employees this month, then we recommend creating a campaign to amplify Black voices. This campaign revolves around authenticity and storytelling, encouraging employees to share their personal stories. This initiative aims to share impactful stories from Black team members.
As part of this activity, encourage participants to share their personal and professional stories, highlighting what makes each employee unique and special. You can also ask team members to share what Black History Month means to them and its significance.
Feel free to share your employee stories on your office’s bulletin board or through internal communications, such as Slack or email.
5. Safe spaces
One of the most impactful activities you can host during Black History Month is a safe space. A safe space is an event where employees can share their thoughts and perspectives without feeling pressured or judged.
Here are a few questions to guide your discussion:
- Have you ever felt discriminated against in the workplace?
- Have you experienced any microaggressions at work?
- Are you part of a diverse team?
- Do your peers value your perspectives and opinions in meetings?
- Do you have any suggestions to make our workplace more inclusive?
To host a safe space effectively, choose a meeting room in your office. You can arrange seats in a circle formation to make the setting feel more inviting. Be sure to tell participants that any points they share will stay in the room. Additionally, you can remind employees that nothing they share in the safe space can be used against them at work.
6. Trivia competition
One of the most competitive Black History Month games is a trivia competition. We suggest decorating your office to resemble a game show set. For example, you can hang signs around the room and place buzzers on each desk. Be sure to choose trivia questions related to Black history and culture.
Here are a few questions to get you started:
- Which US president officially recognized Black History Month?
- Answer: President Gerald Ford
- When did Martin Luther King Jr. give his “I Have A Dream” speech?
- Answer: 1965
- When did Rosa Parks’ bus boycott happen?
- Answer: December 1955
- Who said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress”?
- Answer: Frederick Douglass
- What was Muhammad Ali’s actual name?
- Answer: Cassius Clay
- What state was the first to elect a Black governor in 1989?
- Answer: Virginia
- Which amendment abolished slavery in the US?
- Answer: The 13th amendment
During the game, award one point for each correct answer. The first player to achieve 50 points wins the game. We suggest awarding a prize to the winner, such as a gift card to a Black-owned shop or restaurant in your area.
7. Managing unconscious bias workshop
Black History Month is an ideal time to educate employees on negative but common discriminatory behaviors like unconscious bias. Unconscious biases are implicit stereotypes about certain groups. These thoughts and behaviors often stem from personal experiences and cultural stereotypes.
We recommend inviting a local DEI expert to lead your unconscious bias workshop. Your host should educate attendees on identifying, responding to, and ultimately avoiding unconscious bias in the workplace. This activity will help employees identify the issue’s root and avoid engaging in this behavior.
8. Mentoring program
Implementing a mentoring program is a great way to give back during Black History Month. For this activity, partner with a local school in your area. Then, pair up employees with students. Mentors and mentees should meet weekly to discuss goals, progress, and development. Mentors can also share information about their careers with their mentees, inspiring them to begin thinking about their futures.
This activity empowers local Black youth to become inspired to achieve their goals. Plus, participating in a mentoring program is a great way to promote your company culture and values.
9. Diversity, equity, and inclusion strategizing session
One of the most impactful Black History Month ideas for adults is to host a DEI strategizing session. We recommend bringing in a local DEI expert to lead the session. A DEI consultant can help your company review existing processes, identify biases in the workplace, and advise on initiatives and activities to make all team members feel included.
The key to executing this activity correctly is to value and honor the input of people of color on your team. Recognizing all viewpoints will allow you to create a completely inclusive strategy for your team to foster DEI year-round.
10. Panel discussion
A panel discussion is an event where a group of speakers shares their perspectives on a variety of topics. You should choose a main topic for each discussion, giving your speakers an idea of what questions to expect.
Here are a few suggested topics for your panel discussion:
- Racial justice
- Civil rights
- Equity and equality
- Cultural traditions
- Black achievements throughout history
- Social justice
To organize your panel discussion, choose five to six panelists. Panelists can include internal employees, executives, and representatives from other companies. Next, create a list of questions related to the topic. At your event, allow each panelist to introduce themselves and answer each question. Remember to leave room at the end of your event for an audience Q&A session.
11. Keynote speaker
If you are looking for Black History Month event ideas, then we recommend organizing a keynote speech in your office’s auditorium. For example, you can invite a local historian to speak about Black history and culture. You could also invite a social justice activist to discuss racial justice and civil rights movements.
To make the event more impactful, you could have the speaker talk about their culture as well as any work they have done to promote equality and equity. Remember to leave enough time at the end of the speech for a Q&A session.
12. Team lunch
One of the best Black History Month activities is a team lunch. We recommend searching your area for a highly rated Black-owned restaurant. You can search for restaurants near you on Eat Black Owned, the world’s largest directory of Black-owned restaurants.
Treating your team to a complimentary lunch is a great way to break up the work day and take your team on an outing. Plus, you can support Black-owned businesses while enjoying team bonding.
13. Volunteering event
Volunteering is a great way to boost employee engagement while supporting a good cause. This activity allows employees to give back to the community, making it one of the best Black History Month event ideas.
Here are a few volunteering suggestions:
- Soup kitchen
- Litter pickup
- Tutoring
- Blood drive
- Clothing drive
- Mentoring
We recommend conducting your volunteer activity in partnership with a local Black nonprofit.
14. Book Reading
Black authors have made a tremendous impact on literature throughout history. One of the best ways to honor Black literature during Black History Month is by hosting a book reading.
Here are a few book recommendations:
- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley
To host your book reading, designate a few team members to serve as speakers. Then, have each team member read a chapter aloud. This activity allows employees to enjoy a story together.
A book reading featuring classic or contemporary Black authors is one of the best educational and engaging activities for Black History Month.
15. Art display
Supporting Black artists is one of the best Black History Month celebration ideas. We suggest purchasing framed art prints created by local Black artists. You can purchase prints online at Etsy or The Black Art Depot. After you buy framed artwork, hang the pieces up in your office lobby or break room. You can also hang brief biographies of each artist below their work.
Assembling an art display is a creative way to honor and support Black artists.
16. Black History Month playlist
Some of today’s music genres stem from Black musicians. A great way to celebrate Black History Month is by creating a playlist made of Black musicians who have shaped the industry.
Here are a few Black artists to include in your playlist:
- Louis Armstrong
- Lauryn Hill
- Jimi Hendrix
- Beyonce
- Aaliyah
- Janelle Monae
- Prince
- Aretha Franklin
- Stevie Wonder
- Alicia Keys
- Whitney Houston
- Michael Jackson
You can use streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify to create a collaborative playlist, inviting team members to add their picks.
We suggest keeping your playlist on a loop in your office throughout the month. Be sure to choose music that is appropriate for the workplace, such as clean versions of songs.
17. Lunch-and-learn sessions
Lunch-and-learn sessions provide an ideal opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Black community.
Here are some fun lunch-and-learn topics to consider:
- Black inventors and their inventions
- The art of The Harlem Rennaissance
- The origins of hip-hop in the Bronx
- Record-breaking Black athletes
- How Black musicians shaped the music industry
- The history and significance of traditional Southern food
We recommend recruiting a local expert to lead each session. For example, you can have Black historians, athletes, and activists come in to speak with your team.
Lunch-and-learn sessions are a great way to bring your team together during the lunch hour for an interesting and engaging lesson.
Conclusion
Celebrating Black History Month allows you to bring your team together to learn about Black history and culture while cultivating a sense of community. Additionally, this commemoration provides an ideal opportunity for employers to celebrate the cultural identities of their employees.
When celebrating Black History Month in the office, do your part to help colleagues connect through meaningful activities and events. Recognizing Black History Month in the workplace is a great way to promote a welcoming culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Next, check out online celebration ideas, online lunch and learn ideas, and online offsite ideas.