Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an event that was initiated as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where African descendants are compensated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests generated a rise in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The wave has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Month
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The period has developed since those days, giving reduced attention to the narratives of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the celebration is celebrated is a indication of the current political situation. How it progresses is a instructive case in how assimilation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the shape of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Tory party, is a strong critic of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a elected representative gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are growing in the EU as a whole.
In the America, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the country. A campaign to erase Black history and experience from the archives is ongoing. One of the former president's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration represents how minimally it can be impactful if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized festivities of former accomplishments, rather than addressing the realities of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is required. A university professor, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a agent of progress.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with things like Black History Month completely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an era that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not evade governmental matters, and provides room for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What value has mere awareness of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that face all if fight against prejudice is not treated with importance. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. It could be that an complete renaming is required – Black History is Now Month.
