Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
This is Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an event that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a corporate feel, growing to encompass functions where African descendants are remunerated to speak with Caucasian groups about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. However, that period has concluded. The surge has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month grew out of this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since that time, placing less emphasis on the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in politics, culture, and activism, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the month is observed is a indication of the political moment. How it evolves is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the specific period in which it occurs this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the warmer months we saw the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a legislator feels emboldened to state that a lack of white people in specific city neighborhoods is a cause for alarm. At the same time, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a entirety.
In the America, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the country. A drive to erase African American heritage and legacy from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the former president's first executive orders targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the situation of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a prof at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just do away with observances such as Black History Month altogether, assuming they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and certainly, even commercial engagements – 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 vital organism.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed across all seasons (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not avoid politics, and leaves space for citizens, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is simple recognition of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Organizations who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the risks that impact society if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and responsive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
