The annual Black History observance is a reflection 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 rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that started out as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate events where African descendants are remunerated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The tide has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this initiative 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 United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the month is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a instructive case in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how important it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the summer we saw the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a source of worry. At the same time, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a complete entity.
In the America, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the state. A drive to erase African American heritage and legacy from the archives is under way. One of the former president's early administrative commands focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as inherently racist”.
Given these circumstances, the observance illustrates how minimally it can be impactful if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the conditions of the current era. It also shows how its short period means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is needed. Denise Miller, a professor at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand actions for equal rights and acknowledgment 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, thinking they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an era that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, inclusion and equity efforts, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an framework that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already beginning to do), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a era that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the history when it fails to address the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the risks that impact society if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and adaptive. Maybe an total re-identification is required – Black History is Now Month.
