"Black History Month is over," but it is important to celebrate Black history and culture throughout the whole year. Why? Because the history of any people’s nation or culture cannot be learned in a month.
As leaders in accounting, we can create a more inclusive and diverse environment that supports and uplifts our employees and clients by doing so. It also sends a powerful message that your firm values diversity and is committed to creating a more equitable and just society.
As a Black woman and immigrant, my career journey has required more persistence and determination than most—as is the case for many Black entrepreneurs. According to the recent Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month survey of over 1,000 Black business owners, 79% of respondents have experienced racism from a customer, and 82% say they behave differently in customer and vendor interactions to avoid negative racial stereotypes.
Now the founder and president of my own firm, I’ve gained important knowledge on how to be a Black entrepreneur and leader in our current social climate. Here are some tips for accounting leaders to go beyond the month of February and commit to recognizing Black history year-round.
Creating Educational Opportunities
Organizing training for employees that go in-depth on the lived experiences of Black men and women throughout history is an important step in fostering an understanding of our culture. This is a great opportunity to give a platform to your Black employees to share their experiences, if they are comfortable doing so.
Encourage your non-Black employees to ask questions and share their thoughts on what was covered throughout the training to further deepen the impact. When we know the background and culture of the people we are working with, it helps us understand them and why they behave or respond in a certain way. It compels us to respect, not judge and fosters a relationship that promotes teamwork and, ultimately, makes the company a better place.
Conduct Internal Assessments
To genuinely honor Black history, firms should take into account the Black individuals working within their own organizations. They should assess their positions and roles and consider the impact their absence would have on the company. Evaluate whether they are receiving fair compensation in comparison to their non-Black counterparts who perform similar tasks or hold a comparable title.
Conducting these analyses enables firms to identify and address any disparities or gaps and take meaningful steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all employees. A public display of intent to do this and a statement of accomplishment can also be made to demonstrate your commitment.
Engage With the Greater Community
Another way firms can support Black communities is by offering paid time off for employees to volunteer with local organizations. While you can allow employees to volunteer wherever they choose, as a leader you can provide the resources for your team to understand how they could leverage this time to support the Black community.
This not only provides a valuable benefit to employees, but also allows them to contribute their time and skills to organizations that support education, mentorship, and job training programs that benefit Black individuals. Additionally, this can help foster a sense of purpose among employees, as they are able to give back to their community in a meaningful way.
Systemic gaps cannot easily be fixed, but beginning to fill them in intentional ways is a step in the right direction. By implementing these actions, you can boost the morale of the employees and further company loyalty, leading to long years of employee devotion, which equals stability for the company. Ultimately, by honoring Black history all year long, your firm and your employees will be better for it.
Ibi Ojo is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, IRS Enrolled Agent, and President of Fortune Accounting and Business Solutions Inc., a full firm offering bookkeeping and accounting, payroll, tax preparation, business consulting and QuickBooks training, consulting and support services.
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