No. 8.0: “Finding Balance in Stewardship during Black History Month”
At one point in time during my professional career, I was active in coordinating the office Black History Month program. Subsequently I was assigned to coordinate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day as well. It was a creative release for me at the time as I was absolutely miserable with my normal 9 to 5 duties. I must admit I took the programs to another level. They were interactive and informative. I initiated having a table set up in the office lobby displaying items in reference to whatever the Black History Month theme was for the month This set the template for the other cultural or historical observances that occurred throughout the year. Women's History Month. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Pride Month. You get the point. There was an intentional attempt to be inclusive whether the company employees cared or not. The display was front and center. Difficult to miss by those entering in and out of the building. Due to a change in job position, I simply couldn’t continue planning the Black History Month program and Dr. Martin Luther King Day programs. However, my reputative made me a go-to person for questions to ensure the current programming was appropriate, represented us, used the right language and referenced the appropriate data. (I don’t profess to be an expert on history but I am intentional about learning.) I felt like I set the tone that these observances are not just 1 or 2 hours for employees to break away from their desks to participate in a luncheon. It was a time to honor communities who molded and shaped America. These observances were often performative. Not really informative. Just something to make everyone comfortable. I distinctly remember asking if I could include something in reference to white people in one of the Black History Month programs I was planning so that they could feel included. I politely ignored the request.
Right after I moved into my new position, the world was impacted by COVID and into isolation I went as we were told to take home our work equipment. One would have to have been living in oblivion to not acknowledge the severe negative impact of events that occurred during the shutdown. Police and everyday citizens executing, beating and terrorizing Black men and women became such a constant occurrence that it was infuriating. Yet numbing. It was exhaustive.
There was a turning point for me. A point that caused me to rethink how I show up in spaces that represent inclusivity or the lack thereof. There was an attempt by two white women to initiate some type of program or training to support our company's Black employees. They wanted to model it after the initiatives that were being implemented by other companies. The suggestion was to hold training on how to treat each other and open the floor for discussion. This was a no go for my fellow Black coworkers. The NO was relayed to these women via the employee equal opportunity specialist at the time. They were relentless. Not wanting to accept NO for an answer. That's where I was called in. I was asked to participate in a discussion with these women to provide my feedback on this initiative they wanted to see come to fruition. I listened to what they had to say. Then simply told them it wasn’t a good idea. The protection of our humanity wasn’t a formal memo sent out via email that more than likely wouldn’t be opened. It would not be beneficial to us and simply none of us were interested in participating. I think that NO stuck. Their only other question was how could they assist in supporting their Black coworkers. I told them to educate themselves. I had nothing else to give them. I hit my breaking point. The constant expectation of having to educate others on how to treat us, who we are and how we have contributed to this world was draining. It comes so naturally and yet it's a nuisance to still have to do so over and over and over and over again. It seems with every injustice we are going back to square one. Whatever advancement we seem to have made, we get taken back 100 years.
I have had to learn to find balance in what I offer in terms of ensuring how we are portrayed and discussed in spaces that are not our own. Of course developing my own platform to discuss historic preservation within the Black community is one way I show up. However, it's mine. It's not to support someone else's agenda. I think that's where I have found balance. There is power in knowledge. We were given the gift to be stewards. We shouldn’t dismiss it. We belong here. We need to be seen and heard. However, we should be intentional about how we show up.
Black History Month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth have become quite popular amongst non-black organizations and companies over the past couple of years. I don’t think I need to explain why. A part of me thinks its performative. However, a part of me has also noticed that Black and Brown people are being recognized as major contributors to the success of these organizations and companies. I received an email from DSW and Bath and Body Works today. Because, well, today is the first day of Black History Month so the slue of promotional emails is not surprising. One thing that I noticed about both emails is that I learned about a Black shoe designer and Black perfurmer that I was not previously aware of. I had no idea who Michael R. Carby was prior to today. Now I know of a candle line designed by a Black perfumer. Then there is Dr. D’Wayne Edwards who is the founder of JEMS by PENSOLE. Then I learned JEMS represents the initials of Jan Ernst Matzeliger (mother was enslaved, father was her owner, CHILE) who was an inventor, inventing the “lasting machine” that allowed for an increase in the quantity of shoes produced in a day. (That part was left out of the email, of course.) Dr. Edwards is on a mission to make the footwear industry more inclusive as he continues to open doors for designers. There was other information in the email highlighting some of DSWs Black employees. I don’t know if they plan to roll out other features this month or even for the rest of the year. We shall see.
I guess this is also where I have found balance. I acknowledge those who are being acknowledged but its not a praise dance for the company or organization itself.
On this first day of Black History Month, I found myself a bit challenged. I found myself having to send a couple of emails giving notice that the office Black History Month promotion had an error in the message. The message was highlighting the work of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan) who organized a “sit in” at the all white lunch counter, Woolworths, in segregated Greensboro, North Carolina. The email referred to them as the “Greensboro Four”. Now for those who are familiar with the story of this “sit in” that occurred on 01 February 1960 it is known that those four men are referred to as the “A&T Four”. They were students of North Carolina A&T State University. They weren’t the only ones who participated in these “sit ins”; however, the picture of them sitting at the lunch counter side by side became the poster for this act of activism. Referring to them as the “Greensboro Four” is dismissive to who they were and where they came from as the city of Greensboro was segregated thus not accepting of Black people. It makes them ambiguous. I debated on if I wanted to initiate the conversation. I sent out the email without remorse. I included information about the “A&T Four” that can be easily located on the internet and the university’s webpage. It was really that simple. Although I received a positive response, I found myself doing the work for others. It feels old and outdated. We shall see if the revisions are implemented.
Then I found myself researching cultural programs for an upcoming multi-day professional event I will be attending. I only made the suggestion to have a program highlighting the local culture as it was a repeated request from the previous year's event. Now I seem to be digging deeper than I anticipated. I know I know. I could have kept quiet. However I think it's our duty to speak up when something is an error , inappropriate and non-inclusive when it comes to discussing topics that involve race and gender. It's up to everyone else to take the time to do the proper research and educate themselves on the topic. There is too much information readily available at our fingers to be misinformed.
I've missed the mark or opportunity in the past to speak so I make it a point to do so now. It truly is a part of my work on this earth. However, I don’t want to constantly be educating people who choose not to educate themselves or to even listen. I am learning to ask myself the right questions before I commit myself to being the deliverer of Black history and culture. Who is this truly for? Is it a check in the box or is the space progressive enough to want to be inclusive? Be inclusive 365 days a year.
I guess it's better for me to show up than nobody at all. This is where I am trying to find balance in my stewardship in upholding the importance of knowing our history. I have to do so when we are the focal point of the space. Not when its convenient.
If you have chosen to serve as a steward for our history and culture, I send you love during this month. I hope you show up but show up without sacrificing yourself.
Peace.
