This commemorative month serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. Throughout its history, an observance that started out as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has developed a corporate feel, growing to encompass gatherings where African descendants are compensated to speak with Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The wave has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what increasing understanding is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The month has evolved since those days, giving reduced attention to the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the observance is celebrated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it develops is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how important it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the warmer months we observed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Meanwhile, extreme conservative groups are growing in the EU as a entirety.
In the United States, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A drive to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the records is in progress. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands targeted 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 representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration represents how little it can be influential if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content commemorations of historical achievements, rather than confronting the realities of the contemporary world. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. An academic expert, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a driver of transformation.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue things like Black History Month altogether, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an period that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an infrastructure that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed through the year (as various establishments are already starting to implement), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not avoid political issues, and provides room for people, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What value has mere awareness of the past when it ignores the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the urban areas? Establishments who observe it should not be reassured with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and alertness to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and responsive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
