The annual Black History observance acts as a gauge of the political moment, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an event that began as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has adopted a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where African descendants are paid to talk to Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests generated a rise in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Background of Black History Celebration
First commemorated 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 multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since its inception, focusing less on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and more on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the celebration is celebrated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to tackle structural and organizational discrimination.
A Jarring Moment
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the warmer months we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels empowered to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are surging in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the America, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A campaign to scrub African American heritage and narrative from the records is under way. One of the former president's initial presidential directives aimed at the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the observance illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or depoliticized festivities of historical achievements, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also reveals how its short period means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is needed. A university professor, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month altogether, thinking 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 entire extended network and tradition of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not evade political issues, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of hidden discrimination and sensitivity to subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and adaptive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is in order – Black History is Now Month.
