This commemorative month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has developed a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate functions where Black people are remunerated to talk to white audiences about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s generated a rise in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Observance
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the UK, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since those days, focusing less on the histories of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the celebration is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a good lesson in how co-option leads to weakening: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the summer we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a source of worry. At the same time, far-right parties are expanding in the EU as a complete entity.
In the United States, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A drive to scrub Black history and experience from the records is in progress. One of the political figure's first executive orders focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the month illustrates how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. An academic expert, a educator at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to alter, change and broaden initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a inclination to just eliminate events including Black History Month completely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an time that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not evade political issues, and provides room for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the dangers that face all if anti-racism is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and reactive. Maybe an complete renaming is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
