This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an celebration that was initiated as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass gatherings where African descendants are remunerated to talk to predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the enterprise of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The surge has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this initiative 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 United Kingdom, Deutschland, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the narratives of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the method the month is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it develops is a good lesson in how appropriation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the warmer months we observed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. the Conservative leader, 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 elected representative feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in parts of a city is a source of worry. Meanwhile, far-right parties are growing in the EU as a whole.
In the US, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A drive to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the historical documents is in progress. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the month represents how minimally it can be impactful if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at an educational institution, put it best when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to alter, change and broaden actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just discontinue things like Black History Month entirely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an era that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out across all seasons (as certain organizations are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not evade political issues, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Establishments who mark it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the dangers that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is required – Black History is Now Month.
