The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an celebration that started out as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass events where individuals of African heritage are paid to address predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The surge has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has evolved since that time, focusing less on the narratives of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and more on prominent Black figures in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the contribution 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 way the month is celebrated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Little demonstrates how critical it is to rethink Black History Month more than the specific period in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform organization is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we observed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a legislator feels emboldened to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a entirety.
In the United States, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, often successfully, to the highest courts of the country. A campaign to remove African American heritage and legacy from the archives is in progress. One of the former president'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 change the national past” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the celebration illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content celebrations of former accomplishments, rather than confronting the realities of the current era. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is required. An academic expert, a prof at an educational institution, articulated it most accurately when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to alter, change and broaden efforts for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just do away with things like Black History Month completely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an time that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an foundation that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed across all seasons (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a era that does not evade governmental matters, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Establishments who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the dangers that face all if fight against prejudice is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. Maybe an total re-identification is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
