Black History Month recognizes the influential contributions and achievements of Black Americans. In this blog post, we hear from Black Unqorkers about what Black History Month means to them.
Netta Jenkins
As VP, Global Inclusion at Unqork, I’m proud to be a part of an organization that proactively creates an inclusive, equitable workplace. A company that doesn’t wait to acknowledge Black history only in February, but actively celebrates it year-round.
Black History Month is a powerful moment that is dedicated to celebrating greatness, strength, and moreover, perseverance that stems from struggle, hurt, and pain. For me, though, celebrating Black history is every day. I’m wrapped in my culture and proud to be Black.
I’m also proud to work with incredible Black colleagues, a few of whom share below what Black History Month means to them.
Josephine Minnow, Field Marketing Manager
Black History Month to me is like a huge cookout that everyone in the diaspora is invited to. It’s a reflection and celebration of our past, our present and a look at how bright our future will be despite the odds we face every day.
Kiara Murphy, Platform Operations PM
Black History Month to me is a time to look back and reflect on our history, culture, insurmountable strength and the Black Love that continues to prevail through all the hate our people have faced throughout time. It’s a time to celebrate our people and be proud, as we continue to grow and be the change we want to see.
Tony Shapiro-Bey, Applications Specialist
I view Black History Month (BHM) as an opportunity to reflect on past, present, and future successes of Black Americans. I often find myself discovering new people who did great things but many don’t know about these individuals. For example, do a Google search for “Garrett Morgan”. Overall, BHM makes me feel proud of my history, culture, and community. BHM reminds me that Black Americans are strong, resilient, and influential to the culture and advancement of this country, and the world.
Evan Candler, Associate Solutions Engineer
Black History Month is a celebration of achievements by black people, a recognition of our contributions to American history, and a tribute to the generations of black people who sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to combat systemic adversity in order to achieve full, equal citizenship.
Isaac Wooten, Director – Strategic Finance
As emphasized by the “father of Black history,” Dr. Carter G Woodson, to me, during this month we should not focus the dialogue on Black history, but instead Black people in history. This month was originally conceived within the African American community as a way to educate on African American contributions when the American school system acknowledged none. Now that it has bloomed as a fabric of America’s identity, we should commit to using this month, and then the entire year, to further our education; so that one day we will not need to subjugate the achievements of some of its people as separate, and instead view it all as simply American History.
Tameika Jacquette, Information Security Specialist
I see Black History Month as a learning opportunity for many people to understand more about our rich history and the people who came before us. During this time, we get to recall stories of our great ancestors and the struggle they had to overcome to help get us to where we are today. We get to celebrate their achievements and bask in their greatness and the culture that we are so proud of. There is still a long way to go but it gives us hope to see how far we have come and how much we have accomplished.
Kenneth Williams, Associate Production Support Engineer
Black History Month is timeless and boundless. As I continue to learn about and participate in the experiences that contribute to this history, I realize how it influences the way I navigate in this world today and probably for a lifetime—as well as how it interacts with every part of this world in some way. This month is a great reminder—though not hard to forget—that this history is with me at all times and everywhere I go.
Brittney Robertson, IT Manager
Here is how I define Black History:
Bold: We take risks Liberated: Free from confinement Authentic: The Originators Courageous: Bravery Kingly: Royal
We are the most hated and the most imitated culture. Black history reminds me everyday of who I am, who my ancestors were, and how they fought for years to give me the life I am living now. Everyone has a history but Black History is unique and we will continue to persevere and overcome any obstacle.
Fahteme Koumbassa, Talent Acquisition Coordinator
To me, Black History Month is a celebration of our resiliency. It’s important to take the time to reflect and pay tribute to those who have paved the way for us. It’s a time to celebrate our rich culture, deepen our knowledge, examine our achievements, and understand our history. Knowing the past opens doors to our future.
Madison Howard, Solutions Engineer
I think Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people to African Americans living in the United States today.
Donald Blanc, Software Engineer
Black History Month is a time to rejoice, reflect and honor our strength and perseverance throughout the centuries. It’s a celebration of the numerous accomplishments and contributions towards the science, education, and culture of America. It also serves as a constant reminder of our unfinished achievements that we need and will obtain.
Michael Jackson, QA Implementation Manager
Black history month is a time to reflect on the past, remedy and highlight the present and plan for the future. We celebrate all including those that have persevered through being counted as ⅗ of a man to those who have climbed as high as being the leader of the free world.
“No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams.” – Jesse Jackson
Uche Okoye, UX Researcher
Black history month is a time for me to honor those who have made it possible for me to live the life that I had today. It’s a time for me to reflect on the immense impact that Black people have had on this country and it’s a great beginning of the year reminder that we still have so much more to fight for.
Lionel Nyama, Talent Acquisition Partner
Black history month is a time to celebrate and reflect on how much we have overcome and a reminder of how much work we still have to do. It allows us to appreciate the sacrifices others have made so we can have a more progressive life.
Bert Amadi, Head of Platform Operations and Services
As an African by birth and as an African American living in the US, Black History Month, Is one of the few opportunities as a people/race, we can rewrite and claim the narrative of our contribution to the progress of the country throughout history.
History has always been told from the perspective of the majority. That is neither right nor wrong, good nor bad – it simply “is.”
Black people’s progress has always benefitted all and hence Black History Month is a time to be more inclusive.
A friend of mine once said: “it is also a time to ask, “What if? What if we didn’t have to review and define black history through the prisms of stigma and historical adversity, which includes race-based exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources. What if ‘history’ were inclusive of the contributions of all people … every month?”
Torri Atkins, Regional Sales Director
Black history month for me means Hope and Faith. Because I know my ancestors used Faith in God and Hope for a better future as the fuel to push them through. Now I must use the Faith instilled in me and hope I do the right things to make my ancestors proud!
Gaelle Baptiste, QA Manager
Black History Month is an opportunity for me to celebrate Blackness and how we thrive in a world and in systems that are designed to strip us of our humanity. We make beautiful moments out of literally nothing. Our food, our music, our rhythm & verve, our accomplishments in white spaces or with minimal resources, I love to see it all. I also love to see the connective tissue that runs through all Black people of the diaspora. We are so beautifully connected and similar, rooted in our connection to the continent. I take this month to really dive deep in the examination of our light.
