Black Women are Supreme…As in today June 30, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson has been sworn in as our first Black woman on the Supreme Court!!
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., administers the Constitutional Oath to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the West Conference Room, Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2022. Dr. Patrick Jackson holds the Bible. Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Cheers to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!! Now that has a nice sound to it!!
Official photograph of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taken by Supreme Court Photographer Fred Schilling, 2022.
As noted in her own words, “I have dedicated my career to public service because I love this country and our Constitution and the rights that make us free!”
So earlier this week I gave a workshop presentation on celebrating Black History Month in the workplace, nothing like finding new ways to incorporate new experiences in your daily routine. And I just wanted to make sure I shared some resources from that talk just in case it may be useful for my followers!!
Why BHM is Important in The Workplace? “Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger.”
Race can be complicated, but we have to engage and talk about the comforts and discomforts
Reimagine the possibilities
Normalize what has been often made invisible
Opportunity for active learning
Another way to regularly incorporate inclusivity, equity, and work towards eliminating bias
Black History is American History even World History!!
A continued engagement with history and the Black experience and helps to give context for the present and future
February can be the starting pointto year-round efforts
#BlackHistory365 ideas that can be implemented in the workplace…
Bring in speakers (This is a chance to learn and gain new perspectives from others outside of your office.)
Organize a thematic book club (Monthly or Quarterly….You can also carry this out in February as well as other months such as Women’s History and Hispanic Heritage Month)
Virtual cooking session (Swap recipes, select a region and do a virtual potluck, create a “Culinary Journey Passport”)
Create a digital board for continuous learning and growth (Slack has become a popular tool that can be used here!)
Community Service/Volunteer (You can never have enough community service, and now there are multiple ways to carry out this endeavor!)
Promote Inclusion via Reflection-Collaboration-Recognition
Organize/create a Black History Internet Scavenger Hunt that uses questions that pertain to African American people and moments
In addition to the collective effort, think about what YOU can do. … What is your contribution?
What role can you play? Invest in your efforts!!
Pay it forward.
Create safe spaces…The energy and creativity will flow when people feel as though it is welcomed and appreciated!
Think before you post and act..Make sure your efforts are genuine. Learn and grow because you want to, not just to check off a box. Do your research…Remember why you are celebrating
Don’t play the buzzword and pandering game (Avoid situations like Bath and Body )
Ask the hard questions…that’s how you get answers and learn at the same time.
Play the long game…How can Black History Month transform and evolve into #BlackHistory365 in your place of work??
And for the road…Some additional resources, recommendations, and guides…
Podcasts (Here are just a few: The Read, Seizing Freedom, Noire Histoir, Code Switch, Still Processing, Girl Trek’s-Black History Bootcamp, Driving The Green Book, Jemele Hill is Unbothered, Diary of An Africana, Still Processing, Black History Year, Seizing Freedom)
The great thing about all of this is that it can many things in one FUN, INFORMATIVE, ENGAGING and UPLIFTING!
For additional information and resources, check out the full guide here!!
Black Future Feminist 