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Writer's pictureShe's SINGLE Magazine
Jan 23, 20235 min read

Celebrating Black History Month In The Workplace

by Haley Riley

Black History Month is quickly approaching and perhaps you’re wondering, how can I celebrate at work or even at home with my family?

We’re going to share some unique ideas with you that we think will work well. First, we have to begin by asking ourselves, what is Black History Month?


Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. History. Yes, two things here: (1) our history and contributions to American culture cannot and should not be reduced to just one month, and (2) yes, we do have the shortest month of the year to celebrate, but this does not mean anything significant.


In celebrating Black History Month, many are inspired to start businesses that honor and promote cultural heritage. If you're looking to establish such a venture in California, ensuring you have the right legal setup is crucial. Learn more about how to start an LLC in California to secure your business’s future.


Since the tragic passing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, African Americans have banned together in support of one another, from businesses to socials and more. But, even with this support and growth, it’s important to understand that it should not stop there, celebrating our history means having more conversations within our homes and even at work.


I’ve seen jobs celebrate Christmas by allowing workers to decorate their doors or cubicles and participating in secret Santa. Here at She’s SINGLE, we’re doing a Black Business Gift Exchange. How does it work?


Everyone in the office is asked to participate, we have all selected the name of a co-worker from a bin to whom we will gift a product from a Black Owned Business on the 22nd of February. For the gift exchange, we are limited to 3 items per gift bag or basket and have a spending limit of $35. Believe it or not, this is a great way to ensure that the support of Black Businesses remains an ongoing thing, versus something that will die down within the next few years or months.


According to Forbes, in April 2020, we lost close to 450,000 Black Owned Businesses. That is a 41% drop compared to the 17% drop that white businesses experienced. I believe this is primarily because people were not knowledgeable of these businesses, to begin with.


You see, most start-up companies have the capital for the basics and completely forget about marketing. We cannot support something we know nothing about—even McDonald's still spends upwards of $6 Million or more on advertising and marketing per year.


How do we combat this in 2023? We should treat Black History Month like Christmas and find news to expose Black Businesses through gift giving, inviting Black Business owners to speak at conferences or to classes, and lastly, asking our children to tell us about a Black Business owner they’ve recently learned about. Black Business directories have become quite popular recently, so a quick Google search will introduce you to new Black Business owners to whom you can read upon.


SOME BLACK BUSINESSES WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ARE:

The Lip Bar: Founded and Owned by Melissa Butler. Melissa Butler turned her frustration into action—stepping off the lucrative—but—soulless corporate ladder and into her Brooklyn kitchen to whip up vibrant vegan lipstick. We’ve had the pleasure of trying both The Vegan Micro Brow Pencil and The Big Timer Volumizing Mascara.


My Mommy Wisdom: Founded by Chelsea, a married mother with two little ones. My Mommy Wisdom is a certified cruelty-free product line and leader in the Black-Owned Baby Goods Industry. Give My Mommy Wisdom a try, we recommend their Everyday Relief Moisturizer.



Taj Hair Growth Stimulant: Black and beautiful, actress Taja V. Simpson is the owner of Taj Hair Growth. The actress says, “One day I decided to take a picture to see how bad the breakage was and my edges were almost bald!!! It made me super self-conscious. I started aggressively doing my research on natural remedies.


Afterward, I learned of some natural ingredients that I put into one magical tonic and I tried it on myself. I noticed my hair was starting to grow back!” The product we recommend is, of course, the Leave-In Oil. I have 4a-type hair and have been using this for about a week and a half now, I love the results. I am for sure snagging a bottle from the website and gifting it to my coworker next month.

Related articles: Where to Meet Women Online


Oyoma Beauty: Oyoma was born from a desire to create a minimalist, all-natural, zero-wase skincare product with shea butter at its core. Founder and Owner, Ify has a passion for wellness at a holistic level, so turned her business mind to meet a pressing need in skincare – a multi-functioning set of products that could meet the needs of those with dehydrated skin, in cooler climates.


LUEQ\.: Established in Lyon, France, in 2001, LUEQ\. has spent over two decades perfecting the art of blending sophistication with contemporary style, setting the stage for a revolutionary approach to fashion. At the heart of LUEQ\.'s ethos is a commitment to redefine the boundaries of luxury while remaining true to its conservative roots.


With the launch of its online store, the brand is poised to embark on a global journey, offering customers across the world access to its meticulously curated collections. Partnering with serial entrepreneur Lisa K. Stephenson, LUEQ\. has crafted a brand that transcends fleeting trends and stands the test of time.


Pronounced LOOK, LUEQ\. represents more than just clothing—it's a beacon of confidence, self-expression, and personal empowerment. The brand's mission is clear: to help customers rediscover their sense of self through the transformative power of fashion.


Black Owned Businesses are growing, but to thrive and remain consistent and successful we have to all do our part as consumers. Sharing and spreading knowledge of their existence is only half the battle. Similar to that of the Black Girl Follow Train from TikTok—our exclusive interview with its Founder will be posted on January 25th right here at shessinglemag.com—we should look to uplift businesses in any way we can.

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