Black History Month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. Over the years, an celebration that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate events where Black people are remunerated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in the second month, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has developed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the accounts of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and greater focus on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the month is celebrated is a manifestation of the current political situation. How it progresses is a good lesson in how appropriation leads to weakening: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform party is leading the polls. In the recent season we observed the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. 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 emboldened to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. At the same time, far-right parties are surging in the EU as a whole.
In the America, a massive attack against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A effort to erase Black history and experience from the historical documents is in progress. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the month represents how little it can be impactful if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the realities of the present. It also reveals how its short period means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is required. An academic expert, a educator at an educational institution, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to alter, change and broaden initiatives for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue events including Black History Month completely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an time that has failed to deliver.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not merely to decline as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed across all seasons (as various establishments are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not evade political issues, and leaves space for individuals, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has basic knowledge of the bygone era when it fails to address the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Institutions who observe it should not be comforted with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but faced with the threats that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and reactive. Maybe an total re-identification is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
