During Black History Month, Comcast is providing many opportunities for our employees to celebrate and our customers to be engaged. Comcast’s Black Employee Network (BEN) has provided leadership in planning employee engagement events throughout the region, including a new partnership with The Downtown Daily Bread of Greater Harrisburg. During the month of February, Comcast employees have committed to volunteer each week with the homeless community Downtown Daily Bread serves. Clients in the agency’s housing transition program will also receive information about Comcast’s Internet Essentials low-cost broadband program.
Comcast Newsmakers recorded Newsmakers segments at the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, Ohio that are available here and here. With more than 8,000 artifacts, making the museum rich in UGRR history, guests from various sectors – community, service, government and the US Attorney’s office – discussed topics related to Black History and current issues such as the opioid epidemic’s effect on children, human trafficking, the shale industry, keeping libraries relevant, and serving youth, families, and senior citizens.
Black History topics included viewing Black History as American History, the importance of the Underground Railroad, and the many contributions from black Americans from which we all benefit. Comcast also partnered with Smithsonian Channel and hosted a screening of The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X at the Heinz History Museum on February 7, followed by a panel discussion with the film’s executive producer, John Cavanagh and Herb Boyd, author of By Any Means Necessary: Malcolm X: Real, Not Reinvented.
The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X is just one of more than 800 titles Comcast has curated for Xfinity X1 customers during Black History Month. These include historical documentaries, biographical films, and specials such as “Groundbreakers: Heroes Behind The Mask”, History Channel’s ‘Voices of the Civil Rights Movement,’ BET’s “Madiba,” TVOne’s “Behind the Movement,” and The Africa Channels’ “Fighting for King and Empire” along with special premiere clips for the highly anticipated film, “Black Panther.”
“I would challenge people from all ethnic backgrounds to consider Black History in their everyday lives,” said Shaunté Penn, BEN Community Service lead. “I encourage people to broaden their Black History Month focus to not only include African-American History but also the full scope of African influence throughout the world. “Black” History extends into a beautiful array of cultures, successes, and dynamic history-changing events.”
