Black History Month serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an event that started out as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate functions where Black people are paid to speak with Caucasian groups about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The tide has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of celebration and reflection in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the Britain, Deutschland, Éire and the Holland.
The observance has evolved since that time, focusing less on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and civil rights battles, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the way the month is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it occurs this year. In the United Kingdom, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we observed the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels emboldened to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Meanwhile, far-right parties are expanding in Europe as a whole.
In the United States, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the country. A drive to erase African American heritage and legacy from the archives is in progress. One of the political figure's early administrative commands focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to change the national past” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the month symbolises how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered festivities of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also shows how its short period means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is required. Denise Miller, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she raised concerns about the short-term symbolic gestures of the celebration. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue things like Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an time that has not worked.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an foundation that a significant effort has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not avoid politics, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What use is simple recognition of the past when it ignores the present reality of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Establishments who celebrate it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and sensitivity to subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and adaptive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
