Black History Month acts as a gauge of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a commercial tone, expanding to include functions where Black people are remunerated to speak with white audiences about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. However, that period has concluded. The surge has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Background of Black History Month
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The period has transformed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the narratives of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the celebration is observed is a reflection of the political moment. How it develops is a good lesson in how co-option 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
Little demonstrates how important it is to reconsider Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the warmer months we witnessed the largest far-right rally in British history. 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 situation where a member of parliament feels emboldened to say that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, far-right parties are growing in the EU as a entirety.
In the US, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A effort to remove the history of people of color and experience from the historical documents is under way. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the observance represents how insufficiently it can be effective if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the conditions of the present. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. A university professor, a professor at University of Greenwich, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The difficulty with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just discontinue events including Black History Month altogether, believing they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an era that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of campaigns for equality – local anti-racism groups, 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 dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not shy away from political issues, and allows opportunity for people, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves mere awareness of the bygone era when it fails to address the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the street? Establishments who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and alertness to minor insults, but faced with the dangers that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. In short, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. Maybe an complete renaming is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
