EcomSidekick
Ecommerce Sidekick

Payments. Ecommerce. Profits.

Best Black History Month Newsletter Ideas

Written By

Updated

Table of Contents

There are a few core values at the center of every company. If yours also values a culture of diversity and inclusivity, it should celebrate black excellence. Black History Month is when we take a month to talk about people of color and their history, culture, and struggles. It’s also a moment to recognize the grit and brilliance of black employees in the workplace, and you can do it with these black history month newsletter ideas.

Engaging Black History Month Newsletter Ideas: Celebrate and Educate with Inspiring Content and Meaningful Reflections

Here’s a curious bit of trivia: Black History Month doesn’t have a set date; it varies from country to country. The United Kingdom celebrates it in October, while the United States does it in February. What it stands for remains unchanged, though: taking time to recognize the excellent history, the pain, and the sacrifices made by black people over centuries.

Racial injustice is around everywhere, unfortunately, especially at work. It could be the US, United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada; people of color are more likely to be unemployed, discriminated against, and cast out because of their racial identity.

After this brief contextualization, we will discuss a few ideas for your black history month newsletters. We’ll discuss representing and respecting their identity, history, culture, and diversity. Let this be a chance to honor the black community within your company and outside of it with these Black History Month newsletter ideas.

Black History Month Newsletter Ideas: Definition

Most of us learned something about life in America when going over African American History at school. But it likely didn’t go much further than slavery, the Civil War in the US, and the Civil Rights movement.

People affected by the African Diaspora, a term created to refer to African People scattered during the trading of slaves, have made immeasurable contributions to our society. Yet, they are often forgotten by it. Their rich history and their creations are given less value or barely recognized.

Because of that, Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, an employee of the Greater London Council, led the creation of Black History month in the United Kingdom in October of nineteen seventy-eight.

On the other hand, the United States celebrates Black History Month in February. It began when Carter G. Woodson, a historian, created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) along with four colleagues in 1915. This started African American Studies in the United States.

In nineteen twenty-six, a little over ten years later, Negro History Week was installed in February. However, the event ended up being the same week as Frederick Douglass’ and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. So logically, they lengthened the possibility to become a month of celebrating black Americans.

Then in nineteen seventy-six, president Gerald Ford took the chance and decided to observe the long-ignored accomplishments of African Americans. And at last, Black History Month became a thing in the US.

Twelve Black History Month Newsletter Ideas You Can Put To Work

Exploring the United States: History, Culture, Landmarks, and Travel Destinations in the United States

Creating an equal workplace for your black employees is a stepping stone towards a bigger goal of a company culture that reflects fairness and equality. Your inclusion and diversity programs must observe Black History Month. Show support to people of color in your employment, as much as you do on dates like Women’s Day or Pride Month.

The subjugation of minorities based on race is a long-standing social issue. At work, it happens due to factors like skin color, facial complexion, the texture of their hair, and so on. This is why, on top of creating a more inclusive culture, you should take time to support black communities on Black History Month.

Let’s check out eleven things you can add to your Black History Month Newsletters:

1. Showcase Black-Owned Businesses

 

As you prepare your newsletters for February, you should set a section apart to support black-owned businesses in your area. That’s an initiative to keep not only during Black History Month, but it can also be done periodically over the year! 

Being part of the leadership team, you could invest in small black-owned businesses, empowering them economically. But you’re also in a position to encourage your employees to shop locally and online with black initiatives.

2. Teach About Your Area’s Black History

 

History is everywhere around us, including African Americans and Black history. We are unaware of it or don’t even know how to begin looking. All you have to do is open your eyes and grow your urge to learn. With the approach of Black History Month, start at the end of whatever you learned at school and learn more about your community’s black history.

Your newsletter can include additional resources from local museums or historical societies about the black community and historical figures in your area. You could also use emails to set up a visit to the local library or community center to look at things physically and share what you find with each other.

3. Gather Donations

People actively working for social justice and racial equality are constantly moving around, fighting to ensure the black community has equal human rights. That goes from facing and fighting against police brutality to inserting black people into the work market; nonprofits work around the clock to create space for their community.

So it’d make sense for a section of your black history month newsletter to put a few nonprofit organizations in the spotlight. To help you, here are a few of them that work to provide equal rights for the black community. 

  • Black Lives Matter is a nonprofit that fights against police brutality targeting the black community.
  • Black Girls Code: an organization that encourages young black girls to join the tech world by offering mentorships and classes focused on STEM.
  • NAACP: this is a historic organization that works to provide equality for the black community in several fields, such as politics, education, society, and economy.
  • SisterLove: this organization focuses on black women’s health, working as an AIDS and reproductive justice nonprofit.
  • Trans Women of Color Collective: a grassroots organization to support trans and gender-nonconforming POC in leadership roles.

4. Special Events 

 

One of the best ways to support your workers as part of a minority is to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. It’s important to understand that a significant portion of unconscious bias and even some of the work harassment directed at people of color results from a lack of education. 

Everyone would benefit from a workshop/talk centered around topics that affect the black community, not just your black employees. It will help workers in a social position of privilege empathize with minorities. You can invite an expert to talk virtually and use your emails to spread the link or share existing videos from black artists talking about their experiences.

Empowering the Black Community: Resources, Organizations, and Inspiring Stories for Strength and Progress

5. Share Black Literature

Literature can be a protest and celebration, whether fiction, nonfiction, or audiobook. It speaks about actual stories and lived experiences. But much like other areas of society, black writers aren’t as recognized as their white counterparts. Literature is essential for understanding black culture better.

To become a supporter of the black community, use platforms such as your internal corporate newsletter to showcase contemporary and classic black writers along with their exceptional works. During Black History Month, consider adding a selection of black literature to one of your newsletters or hosting a book reading event in your company.

To give you some ideas of what to recommend, here are some books by black writers:

  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou 
  • Hunger by Roxane Gay
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

6. Create Mentorships

It is much harder to succeed if you have no help. One way to advance and foster black talent is to use your position of power to mentor a young person or coworker. All you’ve got to do is support black young people and encourage them to use their talents in relevant fields.

Use your black history month newsletter to make yourself available to people or point out who can better help them in their endeavors. 

7. Support Black Art

Artistic endeavors like poetry, dance, musical productions, or whatever results from being creative are neutral. It knows no race, gender, sexuality, or caste. Art is beyond any differences, including race. Or at least it should be. Black creatives, poets, writers, and musicians, are all vital to sustaining black culture.

Whether you do it in February or October, use Black History Month to support the culture and art of the black community. Like the books we’ve indicated in this article, let us help you with some classic songs by amazing black artists you can feature as a soundtrack to your newsletters.

  • ‘Lean On Me by Bill Withers
  • ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me by Ella Fitzgerald
  • ‘At Last’ by Etta James
  • ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours by Stevie Wonder

8. Enjoy Local Black-Owned Cuisine

Suppose you do it in October or February. Whatever the case, it’s always a great time to enjoy genuine African American cuisine from black-owned businesses. Your newsletter can be used to set up a culinary event in location, have them come cater at the office, or give some indications to your remote workers.

Make sure to add a feature on your company’s social media accounts and encourage your employees to talk about it!

9. Implement Diversity Training Programs

The best way to construct a safe and equal work atmosphere for everyone is to educate employees about black history. Diversity training programs are a tool to do that; they can happen in person or be virtual events.

If your company does not have designated people to do this during Black History Month, inviting speakers from the community around you is an excellent alternative. 

10. Start A Campaign Against Bullying

Black and African Americans are much more likely to be bullied everywhere, from school to their place of work. When we think about how they struggle and are oppressed daily, bullying is often the first thing we think of. And sadly, workplace bullying is still a reality today. 

This coming black history month, ensure your email communication builds up a solid anti-bullying campaign along with other channels. This has to include a safe space where people can come and denounce anything that happens.

11. Share Relevant Quotes

Doing this takes little space in your newsletters and can link to your company’s communication channels. Such a small detail can be very inspiring during Black History Month.

Final Thoughts

African Americans: Celebrating Contributions, History, and Culture of the African American Community

In conclusion, Black History Month is a time used to raise awareness of all the injustices black people face and fight for equality. But we also need to celebrate all the fantastic things they’ve contributed to our society. We hope these ideas are helpful in your company.