Black History Month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an observance that began as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between global Black communities, has developed a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where Black people are paid to speak with predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The tide has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Month
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in the tenth month in the UK, Deutschland, Éire and the Holland.
The period has transformed since those days, placing less emphasis on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the month is celebrated is a indication of the political moment. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a position where a elected representative gains confidence to say that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in Europe as a complete entity.
In the America, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A campaign to scrub Black history and legacy from the historical documents is in progress. One of the former president's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the observance symbolises how little it can be effective if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than confronting the conditions of the present. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is necessary. Denise Miller, a prof at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just do away with observances such as Black History Month altogether, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an period that has not worked.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and tradition of campaigns for equality – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – constitute an infrastructure that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) included in educational programs. It would also be a era that does not shy away from governmental matters, and leaves space for individuals, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it fails to address the current situation of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Establishments who observe it should not be pacified with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and awareness of minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and responsive. It could be that an complete renaming is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
