16 Online Black History Month Ideas for Work

Team Building Resources
Team Building Resources February 01, 2023 16 Online Black History Month Ideas for Work

Here is our list of the best online Black History Month ideas.

Online Black History Month ideas are events and activities to honor Black history and culture. Examples include Black History Month trivia, microaggression workshops, and poetry slams. The purpose of these activities is to bring employees together to foster workplace diversity and inclusion.

These ideas are similar to examples of diversity and inclusion activities, online conference ideas, and online celebration ideas.

This list includes:

  • online Black History Month event ideas
  • online Black History Month workshop ideas
  • online Black History Month activities
  • online Black History Month games

Let’s get started!

List of online Black History Month ideas

From keynote speakers to informative workshops, here is our list of the top online Black History Month ideas for work.

1. Black business bulletin

One of the best ways to celebrate Black History Month is to support Black-owned businesses. A great idea is to create a Black business bulletin to advertise and promote local Black-owned businesses.

We suggest using platforms like Google Docs or Google Slides to create your bulletin with a newsletter-style template. Each week, add two to three local Black-owned businesses to your document. For example, you can add restaurants, beauty parlors, or boutique shops. By the end of the month, you should have a list of up to 12 businesses for employees to visit, which is a great way to show your support.

Be creative when designing your newsletter by adding pictures, videos, and links to the businesses’ social media profiles. Additionally, including vouchers or gift cards in your newsletter is a great way to incentivize employees to visit the establishment. After creating your bulletin, share it with teammates via email or Slack.

2. Fundraising competition

Black History Month is a great opportunity to support Black philanthropies and nonprofits. To make this activity engaging, we suggest creating a competition around which team members can raise the most money for a local nonprofit. As part of the competition, employees can manage their own fundraising efforts through crowdfunding, bake sales, or pledges. Be sure to give employees three to four weeks to raise money for their chosen organization.

Here are a few nonprofits to consider when fundraising:

  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund
  • NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
  • Innocence Project
  • Feed Black Futures
  • Black Girls Code
  • The National Museum of African American History and Culture

At the end of your fundraising competition, meet with participants on Zoom to go over total donations. Then, have each team member donate their fundraising amounts to their chosen nonprofit. You can incentivize participants by featuring the winner of the competition on your company’s website or social media channels.

Nonprofit organizations will truly benefit from your company’s fundraising support, making this competition one of the best online Black History Month event ideas.

3. Black History Month trivia

One of the best online Black History Month games for the workplace is trivia. Hosting a trivia game is a great way to share facts about topics relating to Black history, culture, sports, and entertainment.

Here are some suggested questions for your trivia game:

  • Which US president officially recognized Black History Month?
    • Answer: President Gerald Ford
  • Who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere?”
    • Answer: Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Who was the first African American Major League Baseball player?
    • Answer: Jackie Robinson
  • Who was the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner?
    • Answer: Ralph Bunche
  • In what year did Martin Luther King, Jr. give his “I Have a Dream” speech?
    • Answer: 1965
  • Who wrote the bestselling memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
    • Answer: Maya Angelou
  • What US city is known as the birthplace of hip-hop?
    • Answer: The Bronx
  • Who was the first African American woman to win five Grammy Awards in one year?
    • Answer: Lauryn Hill

Platforms like PowerPoint, Kahoot, and Zoom make playing the game virtually with your team easy. Be sure to designate one team member as the activity’s moderator. The moderator will read questions aloud and tally up points throughout the game.

Here are more online trivia games.

4. Employee resource group promo

Employee resource groups are employee-led groups that focus on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. These groups often provide a safe space where employees can connect through shared interests and experiences. Joining an ERG at work is often voluntary.

This Black History Month, we suggest promoting your company’s Black ERG. Be sure to promote the group’s initiatives, events, and philanthropy efforts through company newsletters, emails, and social media. If your company does not have a Black employee resource group, then Black History Month is a great time to launch one.

Encouraging employees across the company to join your ERG is one of the best ways to make a positive impact during Black History Month.

5. Bias awareness workshop

One of the best online Black History Month workshop ideas is to host a session on unconscious bias awareness. Unconscious biases are implicit stereotypes about certain groups. These thoughts and behaviors often stem from personal experiences and cultural stereotypes.

During your workshop, ask each attendee to write a type of bias in the chat box. For example, stereotypes can be about gender, affinity, or race. Then, begin a group discussion on each type and strategies to avoid this behavior. For instance, one participant might suggest combatting racial bias by holding annual diversity and inclusion workshops led by a DEI expert.

This workshop activity can help employees recognize and conquer their own unconscious biases.

6. Social media spotlights

Black History Month is a great time to encourage team members to share their stories. Plus, you can play an integral role in amplifying their unique journeys. An employee spotlight is a social media post focusing on one specific employee sharing their story. We suggest spotlighting Black employees at your company. To organize your social media posts for the month, we recommend sharing one to three employee spotlights each week.

You can encourage participants to share their personal and professional stories, highlighting what truly makes them special. You can also ask team members to share what Black History Month means to them.

Once you receive your employee’s stories, ask them to provide either a picture of themself or a quick video message. Then, you can write the post and prepare to make it live. Be sure to promote your posts on your company’s social media channels, blog, company-wide emails, or newsletters.

7. Panel discussion

A panel discussion is one of the best online Black History Month event ideas. Panel discussions are events where speakers share their perspectives on different topics. For a Black History Month panel, you can explore topics such as social justice, personal experiences, and career growth.

Here are a few tips for a Black History Month panel discussion:

  • Ask five to eight employees to sit on your panel
  • Share panelist bios with attendees ahead of time
  • Come up with a list of questions to ask panelists
  • Invite panelists and attendees to a Zoom meeting
  • Leave time for a Q&A session
  • Incorporate breakout rooms for attendees to meet panelists

Panel discussions are a great way for employees to hear different perspectives and learn about new topics.

8. Keynote speaker engagement

One of the best ways to honor Black History Month in the workplace is by enlisting the help of a keynote speaker. Virtually hosting your speaker virtually will allow you to expand your options greatly. For example, you can choose a speaker across the country since they will not need to travel to join your online event. Remember to be mindful of time zones when planning your event.

To truly build excitement, we suggest looking for a speaker outside your company. For example, you can recruit an author, nonprofit owner, or public figure for your speaking engagement. You can also look within your company to find an engaging presenter. If you are searching for an internal speaker to keynote your virtual event, then we recommend asking a senior-level executive who is also a person of color. Your keynote should talk about different topics, such as their life experiences, passions, or culture.

Once you solidify a keynote, schedule a Zoom meeting during your desired date and time. Be sure to leave 10 to 15 minutes at the end of the speech for a quick Q&A session.

9. Black author book club

One of the most educational and engaging activities for the month is a book club. This activity can help you introduce employees to bestselling Black authors as well as famous works of literature that hold cultural significance.

Here are a few of our top book club suggestions by Black authors:

  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

To host your book club virtually, pick a book for team members to read. Then, set a deadline for when participants should finish the book. Two weeks to a month is generally enough time to finish a book.

After the deadline passes, send a Zoom meeting link to club members. At your meeting, take some time to discuss the book, including initial thoughts, insights, and ratings. You can also quiz attendees on key themes and chapters. Be sure to encourage all members to share their unique viewpoints and authentic thoughts on the book.

10. Virtual art tour

One of the best ways to recognize Black History Month is by appreciating artwork created by Black artists. Google Arts & Culture has a landing page dedicated to Black history and culture. On this site, you can explore curated art, photography, and artifact collections related to Black history.

We suggest scheduling a one-hour Zoom meeting with your team. During the meeting, you can share your screen and review each curated collection with your team. Be sure to facilitate discussions around each collection, encouraging employees to create an open dialogue about the Black experience in the US. This activity can educate team members on history as they appreciate creative artwork together.

​Check out Google Arts and Culture’s Black History and Culture page and check out more tours to take online.

11. Open mic poetry night

Poetry nights are engaging events where participants read poetry in front of a group. You can host this event on Zoom, using the platform’s many features to optimize the experience. For example, you can encourage attendees to use virtual backgrounds to replicate an authentic coffeehouse poetry reading experience. At your event, we recommend inviting employees to read their favorite poems by Black poets.

Here are some famous Black poets to channel for your open mic poetry night:

  • Maya Angelou
  • Langston Hughes
  • Amanda Gorman
  • Alice Walker
  • Audre Lorde
  • Rita Dove

If you have aspiring writers on your team, then you can encourage these attendees to read their original works of poetry at your event.

12. Microagression workshop

One of the most educational online Black History Month workshop ideas is a microaggression workshop. Microaggressions are insults, putdowns, and offensive behaviors targeting marginalized groups. For example, a behavioral microaggression at work can include an employee mistaking a person of color as a member of the cleaning staff instead of recognizing them as a team member.

We suggest asking a DEI expert to lead your microaggression workshop. This leader can take your team through different exercises and activities to help participants understand how to identify and avoid microaggressions in the workplace. For example, the host can ask attendees to submit a common microaggression anonymously. Then, the host can lead a discussion about what makes the statement a microaggression as well as how to avoid making these types of statements. ​

Hosting a microaggression workshop is the best way to confront microaggressions in the workplace. At your workshop, be sure to address how to identify and respond to microaggressions. This event is also helpful in educating employees and creating a safe and inclusive company culture.

13. Cooking class

If you are looking for interactive online Black History Month activities, then we recommend hosting a cooking class. Be sure to invite a local professional chef or an experienced team member to lead the event. We recommend having the instructor walk your team through classic meals like soul food via Zoom.

To make your virtual cooking class a success, be sure to send a list of ingredients and supplies to each attendee ahead of time. You can also mail each attendee a package containing all materials needed for the virtual cooking class.

14. Virtual watch party

If you want to host a fun and relaxing activity, then we recommend hosting a watch party. During this event, you and your team can virtually watch documentaries and films by Black directors. To build excitement for your event, mail each team member a movie gift basket with classic movie snacks.

Here are a few suggestions for your watch party:

  • Selma
  • Hidden Figures
  • Loving
  • The Help
  • Get Out
  • 13th
  • Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America

Platforms like Zoom, Scener, or Teleparty make it easy to host virtual watch parties.

15. Complimentary team lunch

Providing a complimentary team lunch is a great way to show appreciation for employees and surprise them during the workday. We recommend arranging a surprise lunch delivery from a local Black-owned restaurant to each employee’s home. You can search for restaurants near you on Eat Black Owned, the world’s largest directory of Black-owned restaurants.

Be sure to invite teammates to a Zoom meeting during the lunch hour to enjoy your meals together.

Check out Eat Black Owned and more online team lunch ideas.

16. Care package

Gifting your employees care packages is a great way to build excitement and employee appreciation. When putting together your gift basket, add an assortment of curated items from Black-owned vendors and businesses.

Here are a few items to consider including in your gift basket:

  • Art by Black artists
  • Candles
  • Lotion
  • Soap
  • Jewelry
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Snacks

Be sure to include business cards or flyers with information on each product and vendor. Adding this information can encourage team members to learn more and continue supporting the business.

Conclusion

Black History Month is all about acknowledging and recognizing the achievements of Black Americans throughout history. Celebrating this commemoration in the workplace allows employees to learn about Black history and culture alongside their coworkers. Hosting this celebration as a company is also a great way to encourage workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Next, check out our lists of online event ideas, online spirit week ideas, and online team lunch ideas.

FAQ: Online Black History Month ideas

Here are answers to common questions about online Black History Month ideas.

What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is every February in the US and Canada. This monthlong celebration commemorates and honors the many achievements made by Black individuals. This month is also a time to recognize the Black community’s struggles throughout history.

How do you celebrate Black History Month in online offices?

Each year, communities, schools, and businesses celebrate Black History Month. Typical celebrations often include history lessons and special events. If you are celebrating with a remote team, then we recommend using video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to host your virtual events.

What are the best online Black History Month ideas?

The best online Black History Month ideas teach participants about the history of the Black community while honoring their achievements and accomplishments. For example, you can host a workshop on bias awareness, volunteer with a Black-owned nonprofit, or play Black History Month trivia. We suggest including your company’s employee resource groups in the month’s activities.

written with 💖 by Tasia Duske

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