Black History Month is always an opportunity for reflection – to think about where we’ve come from – but I always find that reflection also leaves me energized, because the question then becomes … where are we going? This year’s theme is “Time for Change: Action Not Words,” and I felt not only delighted but also incredibly privileged to kick off Black History Month in the U.K. with a conversation with Dr. Maki Mandela early in October. She is the eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela, and Evelyn Mase and considering her work as a global leader on equality, diversity, and women's rights, I could not imagine a better partner for a conversation about the actions we need to take to pursue change. 

As we talked about what the month means to us, Dr. Mandela explained that Black History Month should simply be a starting point. The hyperfocus these months of recognition shine on specific social and cultural topics can have a positive impact around awareness and engagement, but often it's short-lived. She shared that the fight for racial equality can often feel like three steps forward and two steps back because there is an ebb and flow of interest and subsequent action. But to affect real change, there must be sustained interest and sustained action. We have to be willing to stay in the fight. 

And those who are part of the sustained fight for change can grow tired of having to be the voice of a movement, but Dr. Mandela shared some wisdom from her father on how he approached those thoughts. “When my father and his colleagues made the choice to fight for South Africa, I never heard them say, ‘I’m tired. I’m not going to speak about this issue anymore.’ He said, ‘Tired or not, I’m moving forward. ‘I’m going to fight until the end.’” 

So we need to tell ourselves that this is going to be a long journey, one that will test us and leave us tired. But through that, we need to continue to move forward. 

In preparation for our conversation, I knew I wanted to ask Dr. Mandela about the responsibility and role corporations must take up in the pursuit of racial equity. I asked her not to hold back in her response, and she didn’t! She reminded us that corporations can’t shy away from hot button issues because they feel too political or controversial. “You exist in society!” she shared as a message about corporate responsibility. “You have influence, whether you like it or not. You have to take action to contribute to making our society better.” 

So how can we contribute – not just through words, or by making a statement, but through actions? In September, Avanade announced a partnership with Prosperity Now, a U.S. organization that works to transform current financial systems, practices and policies in service of an economy that works for everyone. In addition to leveraging our technical expertise to support Prosperity Now initiatives, we committed $1 million to uplift and enable Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs to help build wealth in their communities. 

Dr. Mandela became a social worker to try to break the cycle of poverty for her people, because she knew that to achieve true freedom and true equality, racial economic equity had to be part of the equation. By committing both financially and with the power of our people to this initiative with Prosperity Now, I am hopeful that we are taking steps toward economic freedom and racial equality for Black citizens in our communities. 

My hour with Dr. Mandela was powerful – one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. She reinforced the importance of commitment in the face of adversity, of looking at ourselves and asking, “Am I prepared to take the risk, to face all kinds of injustices, to stay on the course of fighting for justice?” And above all, she reminded me that it starts with us – as a Black person, the change begins with me and others like me raising our voices and helping others to better understand our challenges. Black History Month is a moment to renew our strength when things get challenging – but it is ultimately a jumping off point for so much more. As individuals, and as a collective organization at Avanade, we are ready to take action.