Celebrating Black Voices, Stories and Representation

As we mark Black History Month, I’ve been reflecting on what representation really means, not just as a concept we talk about in comms/marketing and agency life, but as something that shapes how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.

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Working in integrated comms, storytelling is one of many factors that we tend to focus on. We help people and brands find their voice, build narratives, and connect with audiences as well as Backing their BRAVE! But growing up Black, I didn’t always see stories that reflected people who looked like me;  whose brilliance and innovation shaped the world in ways that too often went unrecognised. That’s why celebrating figures like Dorothy Vaughan, Granville T. Woods, and Inez Y. Kaiser (role models who Babel explored during Black History Month) feels so important. Their stories are not just history; they’re lessons in courage, creativity, and breaking barriers long before diversity was even a conversation.:

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Here's just a snippet on why…

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Dorothy Vaughan, one of NASA’s pioneering mathematicians, showed that Black women didn’t just belong in science and tech, they led there. I love how she used her brilliance to lift others up, quietly opening doors that had been shut for far too long.

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Then Granville T. Woods, often called “The Black Edison”, an inventor whose ideas transformed how we communicate and travel. What stands out to me is how he refused to let exclusion define him, his story is proof that innovation often comes from the very people the system tries to overlook.

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And  Inez Y. Kaiser, the first Black woman to own a PR firm with national clients, feels especially close to home. She entered an industry that didn’t expect her to succeed and built a legacy that still inspires people like me. She’s a reminder that representation in integrated comms and marketing  isn’t just about who’s visible, but whose voices we choose to amplify.

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At Babel, we understand the significance of communication, shaping narratives, influencing culture, and creating visibility, which drives real impact for our clients and their audiences. It’s why celebrating Black excellence matters all year round, not just in October, as visibility leads to opportunity, and representation drives change.

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As a Black professional in integrated comms and marketing, I carry these stories with passion and pride. They’re reminders that the ground we stand on was laid by people who refused to be invisible and who used their talent and determination to make space for the next generation. And that’s what true representation is: not just being seen, but being understood.

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