Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. Throughout its history, an observance that was initiated as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has developed a corporate feel, broadening to incorporate events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to Caucasian groups about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The surge has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Month
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in October in the Britain, Deutschland, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since those days, focusing less on the accounts of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and broadly celebrating the input Black people have made to mold society. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the summer we saw the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels emboldened to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, far-right parties are growing in the EU as a complete entity.
In the US, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to remove African American heritage and narrative from the historical documents is under way. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
Against this backdrop, the observance illustrates how minimally it can be influential if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the conditions of the current era. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is required. An academic expert, a prof at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just eliminate events including Black History Month entirely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an framework that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not merely to decline as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out through the year (as various establishments are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) integrated into school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not shy away from governmental matters, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What use is mere awareness of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and awareness of minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that face all if anti-racism is not treated with importance. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and responsive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
