Today’s blog for Black History Month 2025 was written by Omav Kpokpogri, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Project Lead at Abri.
Black History Month reflections: Standing Firm in Power and Pride
Black History Month, for me, is a time to pause, recognise, honour and celebrate the history, strength, and achievements of Black people, whether of African or Caribbean heritage.
This year’s theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride,’ feels deeply personal. Too often, the world doesn’t see the challenges we face, or the resilience it takes to keep moving through it. I’ve often found myself teaching while simply trying to live- explaining things, sharing lived experiences, and answering questions. Some people are genuinely open and want to learn, and that gives me hope. But carrying that role, on top of everything else, can be exhausting. It’s like doing two jobs at once, with little room to rest.
One example of this is microaggressions. They might look small to others, like being misnamed, misidentified, or overlooked. But experiencing them daily is exhausting, they can be deeply unsettling and, in some cases, even traumatic. For many black people, we don’t just have to endure them in their personal lives, we must navigate the same challenges at work too.
Imagine this: a colleague faces a microaggression from another person, but instead of being able to pause and process it, they are expected to smile, remain professional, and carry on as though nothing has happened. But behind that smile is immense mental effort to process, adjust and return to their work. It takes a lot of resilience to do that regularly, and it’s something many black people have needed to build over time, without training.
But, as a learning organisation, we have a big opportunity to do better and addressing it doesn’t need to be complicated. Respect and care start with small acts. Simple questions like “how do I say your name correctly”, “can you show me the right way?”, or “which team are you in?” Go a long way in ensuring people feel valued and seen.
The professional thing to do here is also the human thing to do. And this isn’t just about workplaces. If microaggressions are happening here, they are happening outside too, perhaps to the very people we serve in our communities. That’s why Black History Month is so important. It’s not only about celebrating the past, but also about shaping a present and future where respect, dignity and understanding are at the heart of everything we do.
So, when I think about this year’s theme, I hold onto this: I am standing firm in power and pride. I’ll keep teaching where I can, but I’ll also keep holding space for myself and others who walk this path alongside me.
Black History Month takes place every October and is a time to celebrate heritage, recognise resilience, and champion equality. At Abri, we want to make a meaningful contribution to improving inclusion and equality of opportunity for all our customers and colleagues.
Please take a moment this October to listen, learn and reflect on the experiences of black people, and think about how the small acts of understanding and allyship can make a big difference to individuals, and in our communities.
In a time that divisive and hateful language is becoming more common, join us in creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels respected and valued so together, we can make our communities stronger and more inclusive.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate heritage, recognise resilience, and champion equality. At Abri, we want to make a meaningful contribution to improving inclusion and equality of opportunity for all our customers and colleagues.
From improving how we capture and use EDI data, to creating safe spaces and embedding inclusive practices in recruitment and service delivery, we’re taking meaningful steps to build a culture of belonging. Through storytelling, colleague forums, and targeted initiatives, we’re working to ensure that everyone at Abri feels seen, heard, and valued - not just during Black History Month, but every day.