Black History Month is unique as it occurs during February, the shortest month of the year. When working in a busy corporate job, it can seem like you may not have the proper time to acknowledge – much less celebrate – the month. But even if you have a busy schedule, there are always some things we can all keep in mind if we want to celebrate Black History Month in meaningful ways.

One thing that I’ve made time for is learning more about Black history in general. As the saying goes, Black history is American history, but that requires understanding the fact that some of the history that we may know and have learned in the past may not be as fully fleshed out as we think it is.

I can recognize that looking into even a portion of Black history can be daunting, because there’s so much to learn. I’ve learned this process can be made easier by focusing on a topic that you may show some interest in. For example, I’m a little bit of a gearhead – I’ve liked and admired cars since I was a little kid. It’s very easy to get me to ramble about what an axle does or why we should be angry at our local Dodge Challenger driver. With that said, you would be surprised to find out achievements of Black Americans within the automotive space.

• McKinley Davis – contributed early designs to the original Ford Bronco.
• Charles Richard Patterson – owned an automotive company when the automobile was first conceived.
• Wendel Oliver Scott – the first Black American to compete in NASCAR.

Now, while my interests may not align with yours, keep in mind that your interests outside of work are a part of what makes you unique as an employee. If you happen to find time, look at how Black people have contributed to something that you hold dear. It’s all part of our history and that appreciation can be shared with others if they are open to learning something new.

Another thing that I want to take more time to do is to visit spaces that are owned, or frequented, by Black people in general. History is being made every day: What we do in the present will eventually be considered as a part of history in somebody’s eyes. Making history in the present does not have to be a complicated endeavor either; it can be as simple as visiting a bakery or supporting a local business with some form of patronage, no matter how big or small. In my case, I know that New York City is a hub of activity within its own right, but I see small advertisements for events that are being run and hosted by people that I can connect with.

Want an easy way to celebrate Black History Month in the workplace – both during February and beyond? We can all start by being kind to one another, even when we may not see a reason to. One thing that I’m realizing not just as a member of the general Black community, but as an analyst who graduated and is getting used to working is that we can all use a little kindness in our lives whether we ask for it or not. It can be especially helpful for people who may not be in spaces with as many people that immediately look like them, since they will have familiar faces that will talk to them as they are in most cases. I can’t say I’m incredibly comfortable with just kicking it with someone I’ve never met before, but at the very least a “Hello” and some small talk can do any of us a ton of good for a person’s day.

Black History Month should serve as a reminder for all of us to incorporate our celebrations into our daily lives. Seek out opportunities to show intentional kindness to your peers this month, however that looks like for you, and celebrate those currently in your life, whether it be during the month, or any other time of the year. And get in the habit of remembering that Black history is American history through and through, whether it be our struggles or our accomplishments. Hopefully, you can extract something from this idea and start putting it into practice.