This commemorative month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has developed a commercial tone, growing to encompass functions where African descendants are compensated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Month
Initially celebrated 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 a week of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The period has evolved since those days, giving reduced attention to the accounts of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and more on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the observance is observed is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a good lesson in how co-option leads to weakening: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month better than the current time in which it falls this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the summer we observed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the Black leader of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are growing in Europe as a whole.
In the United States, a significant offensive against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been carried, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A drive to remove African American heritage and experience from the records is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the celebration illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the conditions of the current era. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is separated 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 temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The difficulty with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a driver of transformation.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just eliminate events including Black History Month altogether, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an period that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an foundation that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not avoid political issues, and allows opportunity for people, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What use is simple recognition of the bygone era when it ignores the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of implicit prejudice and awareness of “microaggressions”, but challenged by the dangers that face all if anti-racism is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, critical, and reactive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is required – Contemporary Black History Month.
