Black History Month is a reflection 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 rethink. Over the years, an celebration that was initiated as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass gatherings where Black people are remunerated to address white audiences about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the industry 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 raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The month has developed since its inception, placing less emphasis on the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and more on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the month is commemorated is a reflection of the political moment. How it progresses is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month better than the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. At the same time, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a complete entity.
In the America, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the nation. A effort to scrub the history of people of color and legacy from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the former president's initial presidential directives targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the observance symbolises how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content festivities of historical achievements, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is required. An academic expert, a educator at University of Greenwich, put it best when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just do away with things like Black History Month entirely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an era that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of campaigns for equality – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an foundation that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? Well, first, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not evade political issues, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What use is mere awareness of the past when it ignores the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Organizations who celebrate it should not be reassured with the passive language of hidden discrimination and alertness to subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that impact society if anti-racism is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and responsive. Maybe an complete renaming is required – Black History is Now Month.
