Black History Month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate gatherings where individuals of African heritage are paid to address predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The wave has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the North America in winter, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since that time, focusing less on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and more on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the month is observed is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Little demonstrates how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the current time in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a elected representative gains confidence to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, far-right parties are surging in the EU as a complete entity.
In the US, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, often successfully, to the highest courts of the nation. A campaign to remove Black history and legacy from the archives is under way. One of the political figure's early administrative commands aimed at the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the observance symbolises how little it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered commemorations of historical achievements, rather than challenging the realities of the present. It also reveals how its short period means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is required. An academic expert, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to alter, change and broaden initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an era that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an framework that a considerable labor has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out through the year (as some institutions are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in school curriculums. It would also be a era that does not shy away from governmental matters, and allows opportunity for people, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves simple recognition of the history when it ignores the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Establishments who observe it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and reactive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
