Reflecting on what Black History Month means to the Employment Security Department’s Black employee resource group

By Sade Britt, Employment Security Department

​Black History Month is a time filled with reflection. It’s a time of collective joy and celebration, a time of anger, of mourning, of pride and gratitude. We think of the incredible sacrifices and achievements — both known and unknown — that African Americans before us made to challenge the status quo and ensure our very survival.

It’s also a time to remember that the work they began is not finished.

Black folks across this country — as well as across the diaspora and across identities — are still working tirelessly to upend systems of oppression so our communities can, one day, truly thrive. Black History Month reminds us that despite all we’ve been through, we’re still here!

​And one of the many reasons we continue to endure is because of the care, love and mutual cooperation, built through community, that fueled many of the most successful movements in American history.

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It takes all of us

The Employment Security Department’s BEING (Black Employee Inclusion Networking Group) employee resource group just celebrated its third anniversary. The employee resource group strives to cultivate a sense of community. It aims to create a space where Black employees can be their authentic selves, while working together to ensure that all Black folks are treated with the respect and dignity we deserve as Washington state employees.
However, Black History Month reminds us that for this to happen, it takes all of us. It takes folks from each corner of the Black experience. We need perspectives from our nonbinary family members; first generation Black folks and Black folks who came to this country as immigrants; Black people who identify as LGBTQ+; Black people with disabilities; African Americans; Black folks from the Caribbean; Black people who hail from countries in Africa; and Black people who identify as Afro-Latino. We need Black community members who have rich cultures and histories that aren’t typically centered in an American context.

What Black History Month means to BEING

Here at Employment Security Department (ESD), we believe that cooperation is the key to creating positive change for ourselves and the communities we serve. Our agency core values focus on love, stewardship, equity, love and belonging. Through our agency employee resource groups, we work toward attaining equity for all state employees. Creating and maintaining a safe space where all employees, no matter their background, can live a true sense of belonging is one of our primary goals.

We want all state agencies to offer a safe space for Black employees to exchange valuable resources, learn from each other, have fun together, share their stories, respectfully disagree and support each other. These spaces are where we can appreciate all our wonderful diversity and commonality as we strive for collective liberation.
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Black History Month reminds us that change requires work. We invite all employees who want to challenge the status quo and create change to join employee resource groups, professional networking groups and local community organizations to collaborate with those who share this vision.

Author Sade Britt works in ESD’s Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. She also is a member of Employment Security Department’s Black Employee Inclusion Networking Group (BEING).