This commemorative month serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that was initiated as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include events where individuals of African heritage are compensated to speak with Caucasian groups about hidden biases and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Originally observed in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The observance has transformed since that time, focusing less on the histories of transatlantic enslavement and struggles for equality, and more on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and widely honoring the contribution Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the celebration is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the specific period in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform party is leading the polls. In the warmer months we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a legislator gains confidence to state that a lack of white people in parts of a city is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the European continent as a whole.
In the United States, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been carried, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the top legal institutions of the state. A drive to erase the history of people of color and legacy from the historical documents is in progress. One of the former president's early administrative commands aimed at the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to change the national past” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the month illustrates how little it can be influential if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the realities of the current era. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is needed. Denise Miller, a educator at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just do away with things like Black History Month altogether, assuming they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an era that has failed to deliver.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an infrastructure that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not avoid governmental matters, and allows opportunity for people, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the street? Establishments who observe it should not be pacified with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but confronted with the dangers that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and reactive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
