Black History Month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where African descendants are remunerated to speak with Caucasian groups about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has peaked, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in winter, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Éire and the Netherlands.
The month has developed since its inception, giving reduced attention to 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 broadly celebrating the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the month is observed is a reflection of the political moment. How it develops is a instructive case in how co-option leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.
A Troubling Time
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform organization is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we observed the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a member of parliament feels emboldened to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in Europe as a complete entity.
In the US, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been carried, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the country. A effort to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the historical documents is under way. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the month symbolises how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized celebrations of historical achievements, rather than challenging the conditions of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is necessary. Denise Miller, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the observance. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just discontinue events including Black History Month entirely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an time that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed through the year (as various establishments are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not evade political issues, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and awareness of subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that face all if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and adaptive. It could be that an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.
