Action, not words – Black History Month with Brit

Black history is part of everyday history – At Brit we celebrate Black History Month as an additional highlight - recognising and learning about Black history. This year we focused on hearing people’s experiences. Including how they navigate conversations about race in the workplace, encouraging safe spaces and learning about how Black figures paved the way for where the world is now when it comes to diversity and inclusion. 

We sometimes prefer to forget some of the negative aspects of Black history, but this means some of the positive aspects can also forgotten in the process.

The theme this year is “Time for Change: Action not words”.  To enable us to achieve a better tomorrow, we celebrate the past whilst acknowledging and learning from it: but to improve the future, we need action and not words.

In line with the theme this year, R.I.S.E (Brit’s Race and Belonging Employee Resource Group) planned many activities that will allow for educational discussions, fun and important learnings. These include:

Former professional footballer Luther Blissett, delivering an event to openly discuss the need to eliminate racism and discrimination and how we can work together to reach that goal.

A Let’s Talk About Race workshop, hosted by Peter Hall from VERCIDA

A Sip and Paint session, where colleagues could take time out from their day to have some fun painting significant figures from the Black community.

Attendance at ACIN’s (African-American Insurance Network) annual Black History Month quiz.

Whilst insurance has helped many Black figures throughout history, the industry is currently underrepresented by people of Caribbean or African descent. Events during Black History Month can help facilitate the change that we need to see within the industry, so that Black colleagues are playing a part in the stories that people will read in another 300 years.