Skip to content

From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Maya Angelou to James Baldwin and Rosa Parks, there are a great many names and people that are associated with black leadership in the past. In addition, there are many more black leaders in todayโ€™s living history, and more to come in the future.ย 

Black Leaders Awareness Day seeks to spotlight, feature, encourage and inspire all black leaders โ€“ of yesterday, today and tomorrow!

History of Black Leaders Awareness Day

Black Leaders Awareness Day (BLAD) was founded in the United Kingdom a few years ago with the goal of honoring and promoting black leaders from the past and present, while providing inspiration for those who might become black leaders in the future. The organizers behind the day believe it is right and just to highlight black leaders, as well as those who support diversity in leadership, so that the important history of black leaders can continue to be told โ€“ with a deep understanding that allows this history to have a vital impact on the future.

How to Celebrate Black Leaders Awareness Day

Get involved and participate with Black Leaders Awareness Day, starting with some of these ideas:

Support and Share About Black Leaders Awareness Day

Individuals, businesses, community leaders, government organizations and more can get involved with celebrating Black Leaders Awareness Day by showing support for the event. The brandโ€™s website provides access to a number of different logos, templates, guidelines and other downloadable materials that can help foster and promote this day that has been set aside to honor black leaders.ย ย 

Learn More About Black Leadersย 

In celebration of Black Leaders Awareness Day, individuals, parents, and teachers can all get involved by learning more about local and national black leaders. Parents and teachers can tailor lessons for their students around the theme, providing inspiring stories of black men and women who have overcome the odds to stand up and lead others.

Consider learning about and reading some of these important stories in honor of Black Leaders Awareness Day:

  • Shirley Chisholm

    The first black woman elected to the US Congress in 1968

  • Thurgood Marshall

    American civil rights lawyer and the Supreme Courtโ€™s first African American justice

  • Claudette Colvin

    American civil rights activist who preceded Rosa Parks in getting arrested for refusing to give her seat on a bus to a white woman

  • Sojourner Truth

    A powerful voice in the abolitionist movement after escaping from slavery herself in 1826

Host Black Leaders Awareness Events

Schools, universities, community organizations, companies, government agencies and other groups can get involved with Black Leaders Awareness Day in a variety of ways, especially through awareness and educational events. Host a seminar, ceremony, webinar, black authorโ€™s book signing, job fair, scholarship fund-raising campaign, art show featuring black artists, black heritage celebration and more. The ideas and opportunities are almost endless when it comes to honoring, celebrating and showcasing black leaders in the local community and throughout the globe!

Also on ...

View all holidays

Insurance Nerd Day

If you have any friends or family who are insurance nerds, thank them for the work they do and see if they have any advice theyโ€™re just dying to give you.

Nelson Mandela International Day

Recall the remarkable life of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, and see what you can do to help make the world a better place for everyone.

View all holidays

We think you may also like...

Gunpowder Day

A dazzling celebration with bonfires, fireworks, and a rebellious spirit that lights up the night sky. Get ready for a spectacular display!

St. Andrew’s Day

Celebrated for his kindness and valor, the patron saint of Scotland's legacy lives on through the Scottish flag and the country's traditions.

Trafalgar Day

Commemorating a historic maritime clash and the valorous individuals who shaped the course of a nation's destiny.

Bonfire Nightย 

An annual spectacle marked by crackling flames, brilliant displays in the night sky, and a historic plot remembered with reverence.

Calendar