What can you do this Black History Month?

Last year, our CEO, Mark Suzman, made it clear that inclusion is a core value for the foundation, not only with our partners and grantees, but also with its employees, who make the work possible. February is Black History Month in the United States, and we join our colleagues in proud celebration and critical reflection. Our Black Philanthropic Partnership (BPP) employee resource group originally shared the following message internally, and we want to share this with you. Below you can find ideas and resources on how you can take thoughtful, intentional, celebratory, and educational actions this month.

In power,
David Allen, Lindsey Grays, and Nate Simpson, on behalf of the Gates Foundation BPP

The meaning of Black History Month is varied and deep. It’s more than a celebration of contributions from African Americans to the United States. It also carries the embodied knowledge of pain, sacrifice, undaunted spirit, and perseverance that is rooted in the Black experience.

For the Gates Foundation’s Black Philanthropic Partnership (BPP) employee resource group, Black History Month is not merely an annual hoorah—it’s a moment of pause for profound reflection on what Black people experience year-round and throughout their lifetime. And it is a call to action. This month is intentional about uplifting the community, and we do so by supporting our businesses, events, books, shows, films, and culture. Our hope is that our collective contributions to humanity will be celebrated with the kind of intention that extends far beyond the boundaries of 28 days. We honor those who have come before us and on whose backs we currently stand.

Last year, the foundation acknowledged that racism, sexism, and other forms of bias show up in every corner and aspect of our global society, including the philanthropic sector, and that only through greater diversity, equity, and inclusion will we be able to help all people improve their lives. BPP envisions a foundation that is a global leader in promoting and demonstrating racial equity and justice in the areas that we work. As a group of racially and ethnically diverse BMGF employees with a variety of community, national, and international expertise, we are committed to serving as a collaborative partner across the foundation to support that vision. Black History Month serves as a great opportunity to carry out our mission, not just inside but outside the foundation as well.

Another opportunity for us all to serve is by giving. This year’s U.S. Black History Month theme (per the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) is Black health and wellness. This theme celebrates a rich legacy of healing—from Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine to midwifery and homeopathic ways of knowing throughout the African Diaspora. The theme acknowledges the activities, rituals, and initiatives that are foundational to the Black community. Black health and wellness echo BPP’s priorities and the foundation’s health and wellness focus at large, especially in light of COVID-19.

To help you get started, BPP is amplifying the missions of 11 organizations. Take a moment to learn about each of these organizations under their respective categories below.

Overall

• Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO)
• Mission Africa 

Education

• United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF)
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)  
• Black Girls Code
• Xceleader

Health

• Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI)
• National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC)

Social Justice

• Innocence Project
• It Gets Better Project
• National Urban League, Inc. (NUL)

These are just a few of the many organizations that promote racial equity and justice. We encourage friends, grantees, and partners to support these organizations this month and throughout the year. If you’re still unsure about where to give, check out one of our favorite resources: the Intentionalist. This online guide makes it easy for you to connect with local businesses and diverse communities with the help of a searchable directory, business profiles, and stories.

BPP wishes you a thoughtful, intentional, celebratory, and educational Black History Month. This is a time for us all to double down on our acts of service and embrace the spirit of our community, regardless of your identity. As the African proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” We hope you’ll celebrate and take action with us this Black History Month, for months and years to come.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Black Philanthropic Partnership (BPP)