Black History Month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an observance that was initiated as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where African descendants are compensated to address predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. However, that period has concluded. The tide has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in winter, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The period has developed since its inception, placing less emphasis on the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and civil rights battles, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to shape the country. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the method the celebration is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it evolves is a instructive case in how co-option leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has impeded the point of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the current time in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the summer we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a elected representative feels empowered to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in Europe as a entirety.
In the US, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A drive to erase the history of people of color and legacy from the records is in progress. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
In this context, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be effective if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is needed. An academic expert, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to alter, change and broaden actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just discontinue events including Black History Month altogether, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an era that has failed to deliver.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an foundation that a considerable labor has gone into. It is there not merely to decline as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed across all seasons (as various establishments are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not avoid governmental matters, and leaves space for people, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is basic knowledge of the bygone era when it fails to address the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Establishments who mark it should not be comforted with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to subtle slights, but challenged by the dangers that face all if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. To summarize, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
