Built on Our Backs: How Black Americans Have Contributed to the Workplace

As in previous years, this month you’ll see a rush of content centered around the Black experience in celebration of Black History Month.

For 28 days, our LinkedIn timelines, email inboxes and social media feeds will be flooded with companies sharing stories of Black historical figures and trailblazers in the Black community.

Now, while we’ll inevitably be reminded of the strides made to increase civil rights for Black people in America (as we should!), I’d like to call your attention to the contributions African Americans have made to the workplace.

While these contributions date back to the literal construction and foundation of this nation, the actual data available is relatively recent. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics only began tracking data on Black and African American workers in 1972 – although the agency was established in 1884.

Despite not having proper representation, Black workers have always been an integral part of the American labor force and at the forefront of labor organization for improved workplace conditions.

Take Black women for example, who according to a study on female labor participation between 1870 and 1880, made up nearly 50% of Black workers. At a time when employment discrimination against women was commonplace, Black women were showing up to work in full force.

In the 1930s, it was African American farmers who fought diligently to raise salaries for agricultural workers and sharecroppers despite the Depression, demanding better living and working conditions. Their fight served as the groundwork for the Farm Security Administration and Resettlement Administration, programs that today assist migrant workers.

It's no surprise to anyone how the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s intersected largely with demands for a more equitable workplace, driven by Blacks who desired labor unionism and equal rights at work.

One of the most impactful outcomes was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But this wasn’t just a win for Black people looking to move up a few seats on the bus. The act prohibited discrimination by race, color, religion, sex and national origin in not only social settings but employment too.

And Black people continue to lead the charge for social change in the workplace, where activism in the streets led to sweeping changes and awareness in boardrooms and organizations after the senseless murder of George Floyd in 2020.

While strides still need to be made, the truth is simple: without Black people fighting for better representation in the workplace, work as we know it wouldn’t exist.

Here’s the thing: it may be Black History Month now, but Black employees and the legacy of Black people in the workplace need to be celebrated and seen all year round.

You can celebrate Black history and illuminate the contributions of Black workers and changemakers by hosting one of my dynamic talks at your company this month. I’m here to inspire your staff and share how Black history continues to shape the workplace today.

Book a discovery call with me so I can help you bring that vision to life.