Black History Month serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a reassessment. Throughout its history, an observance that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include functions where Black people are compensated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s generated a rise in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar 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 publicly established in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in October in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and more on prominent Black figures in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the month is observed is a reflection of the political moment. How it evolves is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Little demonstrates how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the current time in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the shape of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the warmer months we witnessed the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a legislator gains confidence to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are growing in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the America, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, often successfully, to the highest courts of the state. A campaign to remove African American heritage and experience from the historical documents is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands aimed at 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 depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration symbolises how minimally it can be effective if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the realities of the contemporary world. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is needed. An academic expert, a prof at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for racial equality and recognition in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just eliminate events including Black History Month completely, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an era that has not worked.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of campaigns for equality – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is spread out across all seasons (as some institutions are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has basic knowledge of the history when it fails to address the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Organizations who celebrate it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but faced with the risks that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and responsive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
