Black History Month 2021 - Anthony Owusu-Ansah

(4 min read)

Anthony - Digital Marketing Apprentice - shares this piece on Black History Month and what it means to him...

BLACK…..

What does that even mean?

What does it represent?

Scientifically speaking black is a colour which results from  the absence or complete absorption of light. For others it is used in the name of holidays such as ‘Black Friday’, seen as the biggest retail shopping day of the year. On a wider scale it is seen as a contender in an ongoing battle with light. Many years ago in fact it was a colour that was looked down upon and seen as a lesser existence.
           In other words…..Evil.
           Fast forward to October 2021 and Black is more accepted yet still limited, we have more advantages yet still the disadvantages persist. The nation that represents Black continues to fight for equality and to even have a taste of what it feels like to be equal to those from the nation of Light. 
           Looking back at the above, Black for me is simply the colour of skin I happened to be born with and I would never want to change that. 
           During the course of my apprenticeship journey I have had moments where I take a step back and actually reflect what I have achieved. As good quality apprenticeships aren't that easy to get into I remain amazed at how I even got into mine. After around 20+ rejections to have been accepted to my current role and to be here now after almost a year is one of my greatest achievements. Something that I accomplished all while living the last 20 years under the category of ‘Black’, ‘Black British’, ‘Black African’. 
            Ethnicity is something I was always taught would be a deciding factor in how my life would go. As a child I found that confusing but as I got older I began to understand. However, me being me my view remains unshaken and that view is simple
            I don't care!
            Whether it is true or not I will never allow my skin colour to be what dictates what I am and what I can be. I won't let the stereotypes build in me a hate towards the system because what other young black professionals living in the UK forget is that where we are now, provides a much bigger pool of opportunity than back in our homelands. 
            So as we are in Black History Month and we reflect on the history of our people I want to remind you all that we have so much potential and our skin should not be a limiting factor in us tapping into it. I know some of you may be thinking “well we aren't all optimistic like you” or “ “you don't know what it's like where I grew up” and etc. Which might be true. 
             However, I'm not asking you to be like me but simply reflect and understand that believing in yourself regardless of limitations goes a long way and that if we all pull together this belief will also spark a change.

Sign up to 'A Seat at the Table: The Black Experience at Work'  where we will talk to three professionals running networks that aim to accelerate equality and equity for culturally and ethnically diverse people in business and beyond.

Join Multiverse Community Events Producer, Naaman Brown and a panel of experts as they explore the black experience at work including topics such as:

• Black mentors at work
• Intersectionality
• Code-switching
• The importance of internal networks
• DEI metrics