Black History Month acts as a gauge 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 reassessment. Throughout its history, an event that was initiated as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a commercial tone, growing to encompass gatherings where African descendants are remunerated to address Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests created a surge in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. However, that period has concluded. The wave has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The Background of Black History Celebration
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. 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 the second month, but also in the tenth month in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The period has evolved since its inception, placing less emphasis on the histories of transatlantic enslavement and struggles for equality, and more on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the observance is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in the European continent as a whole.
In the US, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the state. A drive to scrub Black history and legacy from the historical documents is in progress. One of the political figure's early administrative commands targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration symbolises how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content festivities of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the realities of the present. It also shows how its short period means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. A university professor, a prof at University of Greenwich, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with events including Black History Month entirely, thinking they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, inclusion and equity efforts, and yes, even those talks to businesses – constitute an infrastructure that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out through the year (as various establishments are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not evade governmental matters, and leaves space for people, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What use is mere awareness of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the street? Institutions who mark it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the risks that face all if opposition to discrimination is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, critical, and responsive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
