Today marks the start of Black History Month in the UK. Despite being a fundamental part of Britain and America, Black people have often been undervalued, under-appreciated and un-acknowledged.

Black History Month shares and celebrates the importance of Black heritage and how it has helped to shape the society that we all live in. 

First observed by the US government in 1976 and celebrated in the UK from 1987, Black History Month is the culmination of Carter G Woodson’s tireless efforts to introduce Black history into education. Born in 1875 to former slaves, Woodson was academically decorated (including a PhD from Harvard) and in 1926 sent out a press release marking the first Black History Week in the US. 

In this week’s #TheEdit, we’ve focused on celebrating the contributions and achievements of Black people across history. 

• Historian and TV presenter David Olusoga discusses why Black History Month is so important – The Guardian
• The dangers of self-objectifying your job – The Atlantic
• How a black theatre flourished in New York 200 years ago – The New York Times
• Generational differences: does leadership need to adapt to account for a diverse age range at work? – The Financial Times
• Why there is power in diversity at work – Forbes 
• How unearthing Black history reveals deep conflicts over inheritance and representation – The New Yorker
• Why decarbonising international trade is so important – Raconteur  
• Read McKinsey’s report on women in the workplace, including in-depth interviews with women of colour in corporate America – McKinsey