Black History Month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an event that was initiated as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a commercial tone, growing to encompass functions where individuals of African heritage are paid to speak with predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since those days, placing less emphasis on the narratives of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and increasingly on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the method the observance is commemorated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it progresses is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to address structural and organizational discrimination.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how important it is to reconsider Black History Month better than the current time in which it falls this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the summer we saw the largest far-right rally in British history. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a legislator feels empowered to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are growing in the European continent as a whole.
In the United States, a significant offensive against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been carried, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the country. A campaign to remove Black history and narrative from the archives is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives aimed at the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the observance symbolises how minimally it can be influential if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the contemporary world. It also reveals how its short period means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is required. Denise Miller, a prof at a learning establishment, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The difficulty with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with events including Black History Month entirely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not avoid political issues, and provides room for individuals, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it fails to address the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Organizations who observe it should not be pacified with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to “microaggressions”, but faced with the risks that face all if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
