10 Ways to Invest in Black People

If you want to be courageous for Black History Month don’t have a conversation. Make and maintain a genuine commitment. In workplaces across America, people from every ethnicity, creed, and color will gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Black people. Engineers will likely honor Dr. Jennie Patrick who in 1979 became the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a doctorate in traditional chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While entrepreneurs will probably spotlight the success of Joan & George Johnson for being the first Black-owned company in 1971 to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.

As you convene to celebrate Black notables, keep in mind a conversation without action is just…talk. While talk can be cheerful, without action, talk curtails the true value of Black people.

Here’s how to honor our past and invest in our future: ?

1.?????Give Underemployed & Unemployed Black People a Chance. In Q3 of 2021, Black workers were 65% more likely than white workers to be unemployed. Hire Black people at all levels.

2.?????Fairly Compensate Black People. Black men earn less on the dollar than male workers of other races. It takes the typical Black woman 19 months to earn what the average white man takes home in 12 months. Provide equal pay for equal work.

3.?????Promote Black Professionals. Black workers make up 5% of senior manager and VP positions, 4% of SVP positions, and only 1% of Fortune 500 CEO spots are held by Black executives. Set & meet metrics to diversify leadership.

4.?????Place Diversity Chiefs in Top Leadership. Of the 50 most valuable public companies in America, only 13 include Chief Diversity Officers at the highest level of leadership. Acknowledge diversity as an imperative.

5.?????Bring a Black Perspective to the Boardroom. Black directors make up just 4% of all directors at the 3,000 largest publicly traded companies. In the not-for-profit sector, Black directors account for 7.5%. Good governance requires mindsets that understand Black clients, constituents, and consumers. It’s simple, diverse boardrooms perform better.

6.?????Create Safe Spaces for Black People. Working from home during the pandemic rendered a refuge for those “working while Black.” ?Three percent of Blacks, compared to 21% of white professionals report a desire to return to the physical and literal “office”. Resource identity-based affinity groups.

7.?????Read & Buy What Black People Write. Nineteen percent of writers & authors are Black. In every industry, Black people pen articles, blogs, and books. Seek out the underrepresented viewpoint.

8.?????Learn from Black People. Nationwide, 5% of full-time faculty members at colleges and universities are Black. ?Black people have made significant contributors to the nation’s history and the 46.8 million African Americans are an integral part of the fabric of our country.?If you don’t know, ask somebody.

9.?????Value Black People. Seven in 10 Black Americans report experiencing an incident of discrimination or police mistreatment, and half have felt their lives were in danger. Treat Black people with the same dignity afforded other races and ethnicities.

10.??Trust Black People. 100% of the time. Commit to being about it. Stop talking about it.

It is never too late to reshape how, when, and why you celebrate Black History. May this monthly awareness inspire you to an annual practice of acknowledging and appreciating the powerful and positive contributions of Black people.?