This commemorative month acts as a gauge of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an event that started out as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass gatherings where African descendants are compensated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The wave has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the UK, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of transatlantic enslavement and civil rights battles, and more on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how critical it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the specific period in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the warmer months we saw the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a position where a member of parliament gains confidence to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in Europe as a complete entity.
In the US, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to scrub African American heritage and legacy from the records is ongoing. One of the former president's first executive orders focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration illustrates how minimally it can be impactful if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the realities of the current era. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is required. Denise Miller, a educator at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The difficulty with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month completely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is distributed across all seasons (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not avoid political issues, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it fails to address the current situation of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of implicit prejudice and awareness of “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that face all if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
