This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that began as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has adopted a corporate feel, growing to encompass gatherings where individuals of African heritage are compensated to talk to predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the enterprise of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
First commemorated in the US 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 commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in October in the UK, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since those days, giving reduced attention to the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and more on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the month is celebrated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a instructive case in how assimilation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to say that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Meanwhile, far-right parties are expanding in Europe as a entirety.
In the US, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A effort to remove the history of people of color and legacy from the archives is ongoing. One of the political figure's first executive orders targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the celebration represents how little it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the situation of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. An academic expert, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation 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 completely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an period that has failed to deliver.
But despite everything, 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 – represent an foundation that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not shy away from political issues, and leaves space for citizens, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the history when it ignores the present reality of far-right rallies in the street? Institutions who observe it should not be reassured with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to subtle slights, but challenged by the dangers that impact society if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and responsive. Maybe an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.
