How to Celebrate Black History Month at Work: 12 Thoughtful Ideas

Have you ever celebrated Black History Month at the office? If not, this is a great year to start. It’s the 100th anniversary of the celebration, which means there are plenty of ideas out there to help you mark the occasion in a meaningful way. We’ve gathered a few of our favorites, but before we get into how to celebrate Black History Month at work, let’s dig into what it is—and why it matters.

What Is Black History Month? 

Black History Month is an annual celebration held in February that recognizes the history and contributions of Black Americans, including everyone from abolitionists to athletes. Celebrations began in 1926 with the first Negro History Week—exactly 100 years ago! Every Black History Month has a theme, and for 2026, it’s “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” 

Why Is Black History Month Important in the Workplace?

More than 40% of Black Americans face discrimination at work because of their race, according to a Pew Research Center study. Celebrating Black History Month is a way for your company to show support for Black workers, celebrate their achievements, and stand up against that inequity. 

Even a small celebration will show that you care. Done thoughtfully, it can help bring your team together, showcase your company’s values, and help your Black employees feel seen and acknowledged. 

12 Thoughtful Ways to Celebrate Black History Month at Work

There are a lot of different ways to celebrate Black History Month in the office. You can support local Black-owned businesses, help educate your employees about American history, or use this opportunity to rethink and reinforce your company’s stand on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We organized our ideas into four buckets to help you find the right celebration for your workplace. 

Note: You may want to consider making your Black History Month celebration optional for your employees. Encourage them to join in, but don’t require it, just in case the topics you cover are sensitive or uncomfortable.

Support Black-Owned Businesses & Black Professionals

Working with Black business owners and professionals is a great way to celebrate Black History Month at work, as they’ve been historically underrepresented in the business world. Try these easy options this February: 

1. Order Lunch From a Black-Owned Restaurant

Order lunch for your team from a local Black-owned restaurant or hand out vouchers to encourage them to visit Black-owned spots for lunch on their own time. Bonus points if the restaurant serves dishes with roots in Black culture that they can enjoy.

2. Highlight Black-Owned Snack Brands in Your Break Room

For the month of February (or longer), stock a special spot in your office with snacks from Black-owned companies. Highlight them with a sign or send an email encouraging your team to stop by for a taste during Black History Month. (If you aren’t sure where to find Black-owned snacks, The FruitGuys can deliver them in bulk directly to your office. Just ask us for our current Black-owned snack options! )

3. Launch a Company-Wide Book Club

Invite your team to read a book by a Black author that celebrates Black stories or explores Black history. Barnes & Noble has a great list to help you get started, whether you’re hunting for lighthearted fiction or a Civil Rights-era memoir. 

 4. Host a Black-Owned Snack Tasting

Get Black-owned snacks delivered in bulk to your office, then schedule a time for your team to gather in the break room, taste them, and learn the stories of their founders together. (The FruitGuys can provide all of the snacks, messaging, and event support you need.)

Learn About Black History & Culture Together

Spend time with your team learning about the history and contributions of Black people in your area and around the country. Here are a few ideas for your office: 

5. Visit a Culturally Relevant Spot

Is your office located near a local Black history museum, a Civil War historical site, or another culturally relevant spot? If it is, tell your team about it or even schedule an office field trip. Resources like Visit Philadelphia’s guide to local African American historic sites and NBC Los Angeles’ map of Black history and cultural sites can help you get started.

6. Book a Guest Speaker

Whether your employees are in person, hybrid, or remote, they can gather to hear from a Black expert in your industry or community. The American Program Bureau has a list of African American speakers that you can use as a starting point. 

7. Screen a Film

Invite your team to watch a film that focuses on Black history or celebrates Black stories. The American Film Institute has a great list to give you some ideas, covering everything from fictional blockbusters like Moonlight to true story retellings like Loving. 

8. Host a Trivia Challenge

How much does your team know about Civil Rights history? Host a friendly trivia challenge or game of Jeopardy and learn together in a fun, competitive, and low-stakes way. This can also help create a safe space for the team to ask questions and share their knowledge. 

Take Action in Your Community

Just because we’re listing Black History Month ideas for work doesn’t mean you have to stay in the office! Here are a couple of ways to expand your celebration to include your community: 

9. Plan a Volunteer Day

Connect with a local advocacy group or nonprofit with a focus on the Black community, like The Black Star Project in Chicago, and invite your team to join you. This is a great option for hybrid teams, too, as there are plenty of remote and in-person opportunities.

10. Donate to a Nonprofit Serving the Black Community

Choose a nonprofit that makes a difference in your city or industry and include it in your corporate giving. To make your team feel like part of the process, invite a representative from the group to visit your office to accept the check and talk about their mission. You could even organize a team visit to the nonprofit’s headquarters to see their work in action. 

Strengthen Your Office’s Culture of Inclusion

11. Invite Your Team to a “Snack & Learn”

Ask your HR department or a local diversity professional to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and pass out snacks from Black-owned brands for employees to munch on while they learn. (You can get those snacks in bulk from The FruitGuys.) 

12. Organize and Support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

These groups are designed to help everyone feel included and connected to their peers at work. As the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion puts it, “ERGs help support organizational efforts to recruit, hire, retain, and advance diverse talent and benefit from the wide range of thoughts, perspectives, cultures, and experiences they bring to the workplace.” Forbes and Harvard Business School have guidance that can help you create an ERG thoughtfully. 

A Last Note for HR & Office Managers

There’s no perfect formula for how to celebrate Black History Month at work, but the ideas on this list are a good place to start. Whether you decide to support Black-owned businesses, create space for learning, give back to your community, or strengthen your company’s culture of inclusion, what matters most is that you show up with care and intention. If you get feedback from your team, listen to it and take it into account for next year. There’s always room to learn and grow! 

FAQs

1. What are some themes for Black History Month?

Past themes for Black History Month include “African Americans and Labor,” “African Americans and the Arts,” “Black Resistance,” “Black Health and Wellness,” “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” and “African Americans and the Vote.” The Association for the Study of African American Life and History chooses a new theme every year. 

2. How can businesses support Black employees year-round?

Organizing an ERG for your Black employees is a great way to support them year-round. You can also provide discrimination training to everyone on your team to help them spot unconscious bias and treat their coworkers well. Always keep your door open for feedback and encourage Black employees to share their concerns and ideas. For more suggestions, check out this perspective from two Black professionals. 

3. How can white people honor Black History Month?

Everyone can honor Black History Month in the workplace by learning about Black history and supporting Black-owned businesses and professionals, regardless of race. The ideas we listed here are appropriate for any office.