The annual Black History observance serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an observance that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate gatherings where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s created a surge in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Month
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in February, but also in the tenth month in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The month has developed since those days, giving reduced attention to the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and increasingly on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. 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 tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we observed the largest far-right rally in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the Tory party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the US, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to remove the history of people of color and legacy from the archives is in progress. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the month illustrates how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the conditions of the present. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a educator at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for equal rights and acknowledgment in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month altogether, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an era that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an foundation that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? To begin with, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for people, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is mere awareness of the bygone era when it ignores the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the risks that face all if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Maybe an total re-identification is in order – Black History is Now Month.
