Black History Month Is Over... So What Now?

This month, when my husband has been on the phone, a few of his friends mentioned that I have been "out and out." They were referring to my LinkedIn posts sharing all the speaking engagements I've had in October, Black History Month. It wasn't just my husband's friends that mentioned my busy October. Family, social media acquaintances, and even friends at church had mentioned how busy I had been, with one church friend saying he was impressed that I had so many outfits to get through all the talks this month and it's not over. As I write this, I'm on my way to Birmingham City University and tomorrow, will be at my 10th (I think) and final talk at a local school.

I have honestly never been so busy, but while I feel incredibly blessed to sit on these panels with some wonderful black women and men, it has only reinforced how quiet things may be after October 31st. I've seen many black professionals joke that they exist and can speak beyond the month of October and while it may seem light-hearted, it is true. I've asked why isn't my inbox as busy with speaking requests in March for Women's International Month or all year round. Why don't brands feel the urgency as much to work with Black Ballad as much between November 1st to September 30th? Black people are black 365 days a year (or 366 days if it is a leap year) and want to be marketed to in an authentic way all year round.

Black Ballad recently ran a survey that found only 17.1% of black women thought brands were effective at celebrating Black British history, culture, and role models during Black History Month. I think with this Black History Month's theme being Saluting Our Sisters, black women were more invested than ever in seeing how brands were going to celebrate the black women who have shaped our past, define our present, and are moulding our future. Yet, many black women this Black History Month felt a little quieter than previous years. There seems to be less of a national acknowledgment than years past and more individual companies doing internal work to acknowledge the contributions of the black community and in particular black women this year.

So as we reach the end of Black History Month, here are some final thoughts on what I have been thinking throughout the month:

Celebrate Black Britons...

I said this at my Charles Stanley panel, but Black History Month in the UK often centres around African American stars, success, stories, and their struggles. It is infuriating as a British-Nigerian woman that the narrative still revolves around African Americans. There are so many wonderful Black Britons that have laid integral foundations of Black British culture and many Black Brits doing the work now that should to be praised. I would implore companies and organisations to look beyond the obvious, often it is celebrities and influencers who are given the biggest platforms in this time but connect with the black people in Britain who are doing the work at the grassroots level, who may not have hundreds of thousands or millions following them. Yet, these black individuals and organisations are loved, respected, and adored by the Black British community because they are constantly doing the work and most times with little to no external resources. In short, look beyond the obvious.

(For the love of God..) Go Beyond October

It is the most obvious point but invite me to speak, spend with companies like Black Ballad , Babes On Waves, Black Blossoms School of Art and Culture and Treasure Tress between November 1st and September 30th. I have said this further up the article and I have said this a million times in real life and on social media, but yet, it feels like it goes in one ear and out the other for too many brands. You can't build a relationship with black women by doing one campaign with one notable black woman a year and then turn your attention to black people in October for a week or so. We deserve so much better and if more effort was put into talking to black audiences all year round, it would genuinely show in your profits and maybe black audiences and in particular black female consumers would no longer be seen as a "hard to reach" audience. The truth is we aren't hard to reach, we just refuse to accept the bare minimum from brands- especially after the promises of 2020.

Pay Black Women

This should not need to be said, but one cannot expect black women or any black person to share their experiences and, in some cases, their trauma for free. A company contacted me and, once they heard my price, effectively ghosted me. I've had private chats with black women who have been asked by companies to speak for free or cut their fee by 50% and it isn't fair. What gave me a lot of courage to not accept speaking opportunities for free this year and to stick to my fee, was that if I valued every year of experience of building Black Ballad at £100, that would come to £1000 of experience. At times, adding in travel costs, travel times, extra childcare, it just isn't feasible for me to accept a speaking opportunity for £100 at this point in my career. Of course, there are some speaking opportunities I accept for free when I feel passionate, but I have to value my work and experience accordingly.

If I have spoken at your company in October, will we work together again before October 1st 2024?

I spoke to my husband about this point and I was a little nervous to write it, but it needs to be said. If I have spoken at your organisation in October, or myself and Black Ballad has been highlighted in any way and we don't work together before next October, then it is an embarrassing failing and it further proves what many black professionals continue to say. You don't value our work truly and only see us as props to ensure your organisation is "seen" to be doing the work. Some of you that have given me the opportunity to speak at your company may feel my words are harsh, but if you do, it probably says more about your perception of me and Black History Month than it does about the words I have written. The truth is the time to be all sweetness and light about Black History Month and how organisations and brands show up for black people and in particular Black Britons has passed.

It has definitely been the busiest Black History Month I've had, but it has also been the most enjoyable. Sharing the stages with incredible women such as Candice Carty Williams, Candice Brathwaite, Kandace Chimbiri and others has truly inspire me to carry on with my own work and continue to push for what I think black women and the wider Black British community deserve from organisations and brands. So my hope is that my work and Black Ballad's impact is just as appreciated every day of the year. I hope that more companies see the value of black businesses, professionals and if they are to honour this year's theme, I hope they see the incredible value that black women bring into the workplace, culture and to others every single day.