Dr. Chenai Gondo, Senior Strategy Executive at British Land, on why Black History Month is relevant in today’s world, on bringing people together and her hopes for more Black people in positions of power in property.
Why do we have a separate month?
I was first introduced to the idea of Black History Month when I arrived in the US as an international student from Zimbabwe. Newly independent Zimbabwe had no shortage of Black role models; growing up I saw Black people leading in business, in politics and science. So, my first response to Black History Month was confusion. How can we celebrate Black History Month when the Black experience is so varied? There are 52 countries in Africa alone, not to mention the Americas and Caribbean. Also, why do we have a separate month to highlight this?
My questions quickly turned to answers, as I began to experience life as a Black woman in a Western country. In educating myself further and generally becoming more ‘woke’, I had three profound realisations.
First, that I did not actually know very much African and Black history. Yes, despite my background, the post-colonial curriculum had emphasised a largely Western view of history. So, I could speak at ease about Winston Churchill, but I knew much less about Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba, whose achievements have probably shaped my world much more.
Second, that Black histories are often interlinked. Black history is not monolithic but much of our history is interconnected. There are so many ways that the US civil rights movement and African liberation movement leaders inspired and collaborated with one another.
Third, and possibly most importantly, is that Western perceptions and narratives around Blackness can often come from an ill-informed understanding of our Black history. Because of Western dominance, these ideas are exported globally and have a huge influence on people’s thoughts around the world. Unfortunately, the contributions of our foremothers and forefathers are often forgotten or poorly understood.
Diversity is critical to the success of our business
I believe that diversity is critical to the success of our business. By creating an environment where people can come to work and feel fully supported, we would allow our people and therefore the whole organisation to be more productive.
The main role of our Ethnic Diversity Network, which I’m a member of, is to ensure that colleagues who are ethnic minorities are given the best chance to thrive. It’s about attracting and supporting diverse colleagues at every level of the business. I mentor a lot of Black people in the company and all their experiences are different. Through our network we share and help each other.
Celebrating Black history
This October, we held our first evening celebrating Black history, bringing together more people of colour than I’ve ever seen at a property event, all connecting with each other. There were colleagues from our head office team and properties, customers, supplier partners and people from the wider sector. It was a truly collaborative event, supported by many different areas of the business. There was a real buzz and heart-warming feedback.
The event began with a talk by Dr. Aida Holly-Nambi, Director of Arts and Culture at None on Record, an African LGBT digital media organisation, who spoke about shifting mindsets through storytelling. We were also joined by partner organisation You Press, who had run an intergenerational writing workshop around the meaning of Black History Month at Paddington Central. A group of young people performed their work at the event, which was amazing. Throughout the evening, we served Afro-Caribbean food, played Black music and showcased inspiring Black people on our screens, leaders of yesterday and today across various fields.
A place where I could thrive as a Black woman
I joined British Land because I hoped that this was a place where I could thrive as a Black woman. What I hope for the future is to see more Black people elevated to the highest levels in property. Real power comes from having a seat at the table. So, more Black people on Boards and Executive Committees. It would be interesting to see more companies publishing their ethnicity pay gaps too; this would shine a light. And maybe one day we won’t need a separate month for Black history, it’ll be something we celebrate all year round.