A Note From Kite Hill PR on Elevating Black Voices
At Kite Hill PR, we believe the celebration and recognition of Black Excellence should not be confined to a month but should be a conscious practice year-round. While the honorary month prompts conversation, much more can be done to ensure that there is space given to Black professionals across the communications industry. We have made it a priority to elevate Black voices within our agency. We are infinitely privileged to have Charlyne McWilliams on our senior leadership team, and for the value she brings to our agency. Read below, where she shares her story as a Black professional woman and gives her insight into what all business leaders can do to cultivate and retain Black talent.
Black History: Honoring the Past and Making Commitments for a Strong Future
Being Black has changed during my 53 years of existence. When I was a child growing up in a rural, predominantly white area, I was one of a few in the gifted and talented AP English classes. I was also elected student Government Association president my senior year at Bluestone Senior High. In college, I was a part of the 10% Black student body at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I developed a strong voice in the communications department. This proved beneficial as I went on to build my career in journalism. There were many times when I was the first African American. Despite being alone as a Black professional in many of these environments, I relied on something my parents drilled into me: I had a right to be in any place I chose to walk into. With that right came the equal responsibility to represent well.
Since the establishment of Black History Month, I have seen it go from an obligatory acknowledgment to exactly what President Gerald Ford wanted it to be. In 1976, he challenged the country to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often-neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” I honestly do not believe we started to truly acknowledge these accomplishments until the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The country saw the harsh reality and fear that many Black people lived with every day. Then finally, real change started.
More companies have made sincere efforts to diversify their staff, giving qualified Black people a seat at the table. More Black people were featured in commercials, too, as advertisers realized the power of reflecting the communities they served – and not solely in February. There has been an explosion of diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, programs and countless positions at companies that sincerely make an effort to make positive and lasting changes.
The truth is the shininess of DE&I will wear off. And when it does, companies need to ask themselves this important question: What are we doing to create a sense of belonging for the diverse staff we hired? No, I am not a DE&I expert, but I am a successful, senior-level Black woman at an award-winning public relations firm. So, here is what I think companies should prioritize to keep their Black talent:
Be sincere and authentic. Show employees that diversity is an ongoing goal and that the company might make some mistakes along the way but the goal is to learn and create an environment where everyone feels appreciated and welcomed, not tolerated and ignored.
Communicate. Find out what people need to feel truly a part of the team and excel in their jobs. Show that you are willing to listen to feedback and then make changes in response to those issues.
Invest in employees. Invest in company-wide training, seminars, speakers or personal development budgets that will enlighten and inspire employees to be their best selves.
I celebrate Black history/heritage every day. I teach my daughter to be proud of everything her blackness encompasses; her rich chocolate skin, strong beautiful hair and her lineage. The way she celebrates Black History/Heritage Month will evolve as more of us embrace our culture, heritage and contribution to building this country. I want her to understand there is no shame in being proud to be Black nor does it invalidate the importance of other cultures. EVERYONE can celebrate culture and the people who helped build this country. Celebrate, because for so long, the only acknowledgment of our existence was rooted in the shame white people felt from the horrors of slavery and the violence during the Civil Rights Movement.
Companies can stay true to their business goals while creating an environment that reflects the beauty of this diverse and dynamic world we live in today. However, they must remember consistency is key and following through is as important as showing up.
- Charlyne H. McWilliams, SVP, Kite Hill PR