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Black History Month

A Century of Black History Commemoration

As we come together to celebrate Black History Month, we honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of African American communities across the United States and beyond.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month, established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “A Century of Black History Commemoration.”

2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William D. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps institutionalized the teaching, study, dissemination, and commemoration of Black history when they founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915.

Don’t miss this chance to engage in meaningful dialogue and honor the contributions of African Americans to society, past and present.

  • We are excited to celebrate with Amira Barger, an award-winning EVP of Communications and Change Management and the author of the forthcoming book The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck and 4 Actions for Real Change. A 2024 Woman of the Year and one of 50/50 Women on Boards’ Top 50 Women to Watch, Amira brings more than 18 years of global experience across healthcare, pharma, DEI, crisis and M&A communications, and social impact. As a scholar-practitioner and professor, she combines data-driven strategy, design thinking, and community mobilization to drive equity and meaningful action.

  • What does your participation in this celebration mean to you personally? Black history is not something I visit once a year. It is the living context of my life, my work, and my leadership. Being part of this panel is an opportunity to honor the generations who made my presence possible while also telling the truth about what it still takes to lead, speak, and push for equity for people who look like me, and even those who do not, today.

    Who/What inspires me: My 13-year-old daughter Audrey is the embodiment of everything I was taught to fear - I look up to her and love her fierceness in a world that tells young girls to shrink.

    An interesting fact about me: I grew up on the remote island of Guam.

 

Conversation Guide

Use the discussion questions to engage in meaningful conversations during Black History Month and beyond. These questions can help facilitate discussions that not only raise awareness but also lead to actionable insights and improvements in organizational practices.

Conversation Starters:

  • What do you think the early advocates of Black history observances wanted for future generations? How are we doing at meeting those expectations?

  • How do you believe acknowledging and learning from our history contributes to the empowerment of Black communities and the shaping of a more equitable future?

  • “A Century of Black History Commemoration.” What does “honoring Black history” look like in practice beyond February?

  • Use these questions to drive your own reflection and exploration of the themes raised by the theme A Century of Black History Commemoration.


    We Recommend: Journaling is a great way to explore this topic! Pick 1-2 questions and free-write your thoughts.

  • Want to engage your team? Slack, Teams, or your preferred digital conversation platform can be a great way to keep dialogue going. Try posing these questions in a group chat format. You might do 1 per day or 1-2 each week over the course of Black History Month.


    We Recommend: Post the questions at consistent days and times so that your team knows when to expect them.

  • You can combine the video and these discussion questions as a Lunch & Learn or All Hands experience for your organization. 


    We Recommend: Depending on the size of your organization, you may want to use the questions to have small group or table discussions and then invite groups to share with the larger team.

 

Resources

For even more amazing examples of celebrating the Black community in media, art, and other forms of storytelling, check out these additional resources. Also, be sure to support Black businesses and creators!

 

Keep the Conversation Going!

Celebrating diversity and the amazing cultures that make up our society should not be limited to a day or even a month. We’ve already given you a few ideas, but here are even more ways that you can take the topics you explored in this HCC back to your team or organization.

    • Listen to podcasts on this topic while you go for a walk.

    • Use the discussion questions as journal prompts for self-reflection.

    • Teach it–even if it’s to an empty room! Sometimes, saying things out loud can prompt you to think about a topic differently.

    • Use the discussion questions during 1:1s.

    • Ask your direct report to lead a discussion using one of the questions.

    • Use the recommendations from the speaker panel to start a book club, watch club, or podcast club.

    • Lunch & Learns: Explore new ideas and connect with others in a casual, interactive session—all during your lunch break. It’s a great way to dive deeper into meaningful topics, like the ones in this guide, while fostering conversation and collaboration with your team or organization.

    • Shared Narratives: Share personal and cultural stories related to this month’s theme through prompts or an open forum. This activity brings people together, sparks meaningful conversations, and celebrates the unique experiences that make you stronger as a team.

    • Collaborative Art Project: Work together to create a visual representation of the theme, such as a mural, collage, or digital art piece. This hands-on activity encourages creativity, teamwork, and meaningful discussions about the cultural and heritage topics being explored.

Next
March 13

Women’s History Month