Black History Month: ‘Building an Inclusive Culture With Care and Consideration’

Originally published on Principal.Com

Growing up in a mostly Black church, Capris Olson recalls gospel songs and programs that filled up February in recognition of Black History Month. “These memories are special to me because they show the lasting impact of celebrating Black History Month with children at a young age,” says Olson, who manages individual life new business teams at Principal^®.

While Black History Month began as mostly a school-focused learning experience, in the last few decades, workplaces like Principal have also provided opportunities for marking the month. Through them, employees can learn, connect, and engage to drive action and change.¹

From the classroom to the office

Like Olson, Durant Knox has memories of education intersecting with Black History Month.

“I recall working on school projects that involved researching African Americans that have had a significant impact on the world, and one was scientist and inventor George Washington Carver,” says Knox, who manages a customer care group at Principal. “Reflecting on Carver’s accomplishments, along with those of many other great people, helped me to see that I can achieve anything I set my mind to with the correct support system in place.”

Even with those school efforts, there were and still are shortfalls. “Much of Black history has not been taught in our public schools, and so as individuals must actively seek it out,” says Teresa Hassara, senior vice president with Principal.

Hassara tries to take time throughout the month to expand her understanding of the Black experience in the U.S., “so different than my own,” she says. Last year, she read The Burning, about the Tulsa Race Massacre. This year, she’s participating in Rachel Cargle’s #DiscoverOurGlory 30-day challenge. “I believe to be a better ally, friend, and colleague, we need to invest in learning more about each other, and that deeper knowledge can lead to more empathy, equity, and inclusion.”

Helping change systems for good

Support systems, of course, also haven’t always functioned well—or at all—for Black people.

Take generational wealth: Redlining, segregation, and legislation were just a few obstacles that historically stood in the way of the American dream of home ownership. The effects are apparent today: Home ownership rates for Black Americans and home ownership values in predominately Black neighborhoods are significantly less than those for white Americans and in predominantly white neighborhoods.²

That, in turn, influences U.S. generational wealth gaps. The average Black household in the United States owns only 15 to 20% as much net wealth as white Americans.³ This disparity is exacerbated by the fact that Black communities in the U.S. find it harder than white communities to access financial products, tools, services, and advice, according to the Global Financial Inclusion Index.

There are, however, innovative efforts to build (or rebuild) support systems and affect positive change. For example, groups like 1863 Ventures, a national business development non-profit, received funding in 2022 from Principal^® Foundation. The group, in turn, extended support to Black business owners like Kimberly Evans, who received a grant to build her venture, Just Her Rideshare. “I wanted to build a community of women taking care of each other, but I’m also an entrepreneur,” Evans says. “I wanted to build something good but leave a legacy, too.”

Creating those support systems doesn’t start—or stop—with Black History Month, of course. Workplace education and planning can also help.

At Principal, there is a February event, but there is also an employee resource group, created to support African American/Black employees, that meets year-round. Members network, learn at a monthly series, and connect outside work through community education, to name just a few. “It’s been impactful for me to see culture here at Principal being built with care and consideration for all people regardless of their backgrounds,” Knox says.

Turning vision into reality

Committing to opportunity for all can be meaningful and tied to business goals. “It takes business leaders to sustain this work. Inclusion isn’t a human resources initiative,” says Miriam Lewis, chief inclusion officer at Principal. “It’s a business imperative.” To that end, in 2022 the Principal Foundation:

• joined other financial services companies to launch the NY Small Business Funders Collective to improve access to capital and technical assistance for people of color in New York City,
   
• awarded a grant to the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund to help entrepreneurs and small business owners improve their personal finances, and
   
• provided programmatic funding to World Central Kitchen to support nutrition security and small business.

Carter G. Woodson, the founder of what would become Black History Month, envisioned a future when the celebration would no longer be necessary.⁴ That world isn’t there yet, but Black History Month offers an opportunity to look back and forward—and then act.

And for some, his vision is reality.

“In my eyes, every month is Black History Month. Every day I reflect on the many contributions and positive change that African Americans have made throughout time, including today,” Knox says. “It’s important to maintain a sense of identity to remember where my ancestors came from—West Africa—and how, through their hard work, dedication, and beliefs, I have the opportunity to be where I am today.”

Learn more about the commitment to inclusion at Principal.

¹ASALH 
²Brookings 
³Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
⁴ASALH

Referenced companies are not affiliates of any member company of the Principal Financial Group^® unless specifically noted.

Principal^® Global Financial Inclusion Index is a proprietary model output based upon certain assumptions that may change, are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon as a significant basis for an investment decision.

Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. ("Principal^® Foundation") is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. ("Principal") operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.

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