Reflecting on Black History Month

This Black History Month (BHM), here at Brand By Me, we’re thinking about what this year’s ‘reclaiming narratives’ official BHM 2024 theme means, not only for our work but also for brands and organisations.

I said on my Substack that Black History Month is a contradiction. Specifically:

“Black History Month is a celebration of Black people's continued and numerous contributions and legacy in the UK. Black History Month is a tokenistic and extractive attempt to prove that the UK is not racist, and this is exhausting for many Black people.”

So what does “reclaiming narratives” mean for an anti-racist brand?

Reclaiming the narrative of anti-racism away from vague corporate DEI

In 2023, at the Brave Leadership conference, I did a talk called “Reclaiming Anti-racism” which focussed on how a lot of organisations talk about being anti-racist, but end up just focusing on diversity. Let’s be clear: boosting diversity, without shifting the balance of power is meaningless. Instead, it needs to be about understanding how systemic racism shows up within your organisation. This means actively listening to racialised employees (and then acting on what you hear - not just engaging in endless rounds of listening and mining trauma).

Read more here

As we wrap up Black History Month, it’s important to remember that this isn’t just about squeezing in last-minute events or expecting Black people to contribute their time and expertise for free. It’s about celebrating the year-round brilliant contributions of Black people in the UK – in culture, business, education, and beyond. And while we should honour Black history every day, that’s not an excuse to let this month pass by without action. Black History Month is a dedicated time to centre Black voices, reflect on anti-racism progress, and continue pushing for systemic change. Let’s use this moment to keep the conversation going, all year long.

PS A shout out to PRECIOUS - a community for and by Black women (and women of the Global Majority) which has been going for over 25 years. Brand by Me has sponsored the PRECIOUS Awards Creative Business of the Year category for the last 3 years (after winning the category in 2018). Sponsorship is a brilliant way for brands to celebrate and support Black communities, so what’s stopping your brand from showing up? The awards are happening on November 18th - don’t forget to buy your tickets!

Thank you for being here.

Collette Philip is the founder of Brand by Me, the anti-racist brand agency.

This newsletter, Brand by Us is an occasional publication for brand-builders and communicators who are serious about anti-racism and equity. For more content, head to our blog, follow Brand by Me here or on Instagram.