Black History Month
October is National Black History Month, a month dedicated to sharing, celebrating and understanding the positive impact of black heritage and culture. Initially brought about in the US, Black History Month has been celebrated annually in the UK since 1987.
This year’s theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, highlights past contributions of Black people in shaping history and ‘looks toward a future of continued empowerment, unity and growth’.
Respecting our diverse backgrounds
Our council is dedicated to respecting the diverse backgrounds which make up our organisation – this respect is part of the East Lothian Way. We can demonstrate this respect by marking events such as Black History Month and using them as opportunities to celebrate different cultures and upskill ourselves in areas we know less about. In this way, our workplace continues to be a place where everyone can be themselves at work and feel that they belong.
This month, we invite you to celebrate Black History Month in your own way. You could take some time to renew or build your knowledge around Scottish Black History or prominent figures in British Black history. We are also pleased to have new internal learning resources under development, including on the theme of ‘Allyship’, which will be available soon. In the meantime, you can access a list of books, films, podcasts and talks on the theme of anti-racism here.
Having a diverse workforce helps us provide a great service to East Lothian citizens and are part of what makes our organisation a great place to work - we want to celebrate that, not just this month, but all year round.
Fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace
We’re proud to foster an inclusive and respectful workplace for everyone. If you ever witness or experience racism or any form of discrimination, please don’t hesitate to speak with your line manager, or, if necessary, another appropriate manager. You can also seek support from a HR Adviser, Trade Union Representative, or an Employee Support Officer. Our council will address concerns with care and seriousness, in line with our Prevention of Bullying and Harassment Policy.
Human Resources