Black History Month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an celebration that was initiated as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between Black populations worldwide, has developed a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include gatherings where African descendants are remunerated to address predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests created a surge in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The wave has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Month
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The observance has transformed since its inception, focusing less on the narratives 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 frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the celebration is observed is a manifestation of the political moment. How it evolves is a instructive case in how co-option leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month better than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform party is leading the polls. In the recent season we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a legislator feels emboldened to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a entirety.
In the United States, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A drive to erase African American heritage and narrative from the records is under way. One of the political figure's early administrative commands focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration represents how little it can be effective if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or depoliticized festivities of historical achievements, rather than confronting the conditions of the contemporary world. It also shows how its short period means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. An academic expert, a prof at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month completely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an time that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not evade political issues, and leaves space for people, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What value has mere awareness of the past when it ignores the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and alertness to subtle slights, but confronted with the dangers that impact society if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and reactive. It could be that an total re-identification is necessary – Black History is Now Month.