Black History Month 2022 - Why Education is The Best Action

Black History Month 2022 marks two and a half years since the murder of George Floyd —an unarmed black man who was killed by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota, USA.

In the time since this tragedy, race — particularly Blackness — has taken centre stage in UK public discourse, as well as the US. Premier League footballers routinely take the knee tooppose racism. Statues of statesmen have been toppled due to their affiliations with slavery.And prolific businesses have issued public statements in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

These gestures show a greater awareness of the issues affecting Black people in the UK. But do they instigate change? From July 2022, Premier League players will no longer take the knee before each game, fearing the gesture has lost its impact. So what can we do to actually effect change?

In anticipation of Black History Month, we explore how people and businesses can take action to create a fairer society for Black communities.

Black health and wellness: the key to unlocking equality?

Black health has been in the spotlight following the Covid-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy disproportionately affects Black people — in the UK, just 66% of the Black Caribbean population and 74% of the Black African population had received a Covid vaccine dose by January 2022. In white communities, the figure is 94%.

And it’s not just Covid vaccines that are affected. Research suggests a low uptake of MMR and HPV vaccines among the same communities.

This year’s Black History Month theme is Black Health and Wellness. So now’s the time to explore the historical events that have led to this health disparity.

Social inequality is one reason for vaccine hesitancy among Black communities. But there are many low-income white families that aren’t impacted in the same way. So why are Black communities more reluctant to get these life-saving vaccines?

Historical racism within the healthcare system is a key cause. According to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the UK’s healthcare system has repeatedly shown that Black health isn’t a priority. As recently as 2020, a white French doctor suggested trialling vaccines on African populations.  So structural racism is far from a thing of the past.

As a result, there’s a serious disconnect between Black communities and the UK healthcare system. We’re not on track to true equality until Black people feel they can trust our health services.

So rather than making symbolic gestures like taking the knee or tweeting our support, educating ourselves about the systemic racism Black people face can help us effect real change.

Why we should listen to more Black voices

The best way to learn is to listen to those most affected by the issue. By listening to more Black voices, society as a whole can understand and tackle the causes of healthcare barriers and other inequalities within Black communities. And while we shouldn’t wait for Black History Month to do this, it’s an important time to listen. Kanya King says, “The month serve[s] as a constant reminder, an ongoing source of inspiration, and, most importantly, a vehicle for change.”

While healthcare is in the spotlight in 2022, it’s not the only industry impacted by institutionalised racism. Speaker and founder of The Black Farmer, Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, has spent years making the traditionally white agricultural sector more accessible for Black people. But while farming is a world away from healthcare, the problems are similar.

“We should challenge the authorities to demonstrate diversity,” Wilfred says, “and ask them how much of their land they’re renting out to diverse communities. What are they doing to make changes?”

Learning more about the obstacles blocking Black communities from accessing specific services and careers can help us remove them. That’s why Black History Month event speakers are so popular. Stories and speeches from Black speakers help us learn as a society, so we can take genuinely effective action.

5 ways to celebrate Black History Month 2022

Black History Month is a learning opportunity — but it’s also a celebration of Black culture and achievement. Here are 5 ways to improve our knowledge and celebrate Black History Month 2022.

1. Hold a BHM event at your office

Celebrate the diversity of your staff with events at your workplace. Encourage your staff to share their own stories and highlight Black historical figures that inspire them. To elevate your event, consider hiring a Black speaker to share their story with your employees or delegates.

2. Offer health and wellbeing workshops

Supporting staff mental health is essential for a productive team. And with BHM 2022 focusing on Black health and wellbeing, this is the perfect time to boost your own employee wellbeing initiatives.

Create an environment in which people can raise their problems in a safe, supportive way. Ensure your initiatives are inclusive for all staff.

3. Attend a Black History Month event

There are lots of events around the UK in October to celebrate Black History Month 2022. Many of these feature fantastic speakers who can help you learn more about the Black experience.

As a business, consider giving your employees more flexibility over their working hours throughout October, so they can attend BHM events.

4. Review your diversity and inclusion policies

Is your diversity and inclusion policy effective? Does it create a genuinely fair and equal workplace? Review your policy to discover which elements work well, and which parts could be more action-focused.

Make sure your staff are all aware of your commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace.

5. Educate your staff about Black history in the UK

There are many celebrated Black voices in the UK — but many have also been lost to history. Black History Month is the perfect time to rediscover them.

Asking a diversity and inclusion speaker to share their story about Black history proves that you’re serious about educating your staff about these issues. 

Black History Month 2022: what will you do?

In an unprecedented victory for the BLM movement, police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd. Finally, society is starting to take action against everyday acts of injustice faced by Black people.

In the UK, the tide is also turning. Workplace inclusion drives have almost tripled since the BLM movement began. But as politician and speaker David Lammy says, “Although we have made progress, there is still a long way to go.”

By continuously listening to and learning from Black voices, we can make real change in our businesses and across society, improving people’s trust in healthcare services and workplaces everywhere.

Black History Month takes place in October. Many speakers get booked up in advance, so get in touch with our booking team on 020 7607 7070 to find a fantastic speaker this Black History Month.