The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an observance that started out as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where Black people are remunerated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The surge has peaked, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Month
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, 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 second week of February. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the UK, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The month has developed since those days, giving reduced attention to the narratives of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the month is celebrated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we witnessed the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels emboldened to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the America, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A effort to scrub African American heritage and narrative from the records is ongoing. One of the former president's early administrative commands focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
Against this backdrop, the observance represents how minimally it can be influential if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content commemorations of historical achievements, rather than challenging the situation of the current era. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is needed. An academic expert, a prof at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden initiatives for equal rights and acknowledgment in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an era that has failed to deliver.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, inclusion and equity efforts, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an framework 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 new dynamic Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed through the year (as various establishments are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) included in school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not avoid governmental matters, and provides room for citizens, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What value has mere awareness of the history when it ignores the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Establishments who mark it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the risks that face all if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, critical, and reactive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
