Black History Month is a reflection of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an observance that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a corporate feel, growing to encompass gatherings where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to speak with white audiences about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the North America in the second month, but also in autumn in the UK, Germany, Éire and the Netherlands.
The month has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the narratives of transatlantic enslavement and civil rights battles, and more on notable African descendants in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the observance is commemorated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to address structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how important it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the recent season we observed the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a situation where a elected representative gains confidence to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, far-right parties are growing in Europe as a complete entity.
In the United States, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A campaign to erase African American heritage and legacy from the archives is under way. One of the former president's initial presidential directives aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to change the national past” by depicting the United States “as inherently racist”.
Given these circumstances, the month symbolises how insufficiently it can be influential if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the conditions of the current era. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. A university professor, a prof at University of Greenwich, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the celebration. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and tradition of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and provides room for people, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it fails to address the current situation of far-right rallies in the street? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that impact society if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and responsive. Maybe an complete renaming is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
