This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. Throughout its history, an celebration that was initiated as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a corporate feel, expanding to include functions where African descendants are compensated to address white audiences about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The wave has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Originally observed in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in February, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the manner the celebration is celebrated is a reflection of the current political situation. How it develops is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the point of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Disconcerting Period
Little demonstrates how critical it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a member of parliament feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in Europe as a whole.
In the US, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the country. A effort to scrub Black history and legacy from the records is under way. One of the former president's initial presidential directives focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is needed. An academic expert, a educator at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand actions for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just eliminate events including Black History Month entirely, assuming they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, inclusion and equity efforts, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an framework that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed across all seasons (as some institutions are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not avoid governmental matters, and leaves space for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves simple recognition of the bygone era when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Organizations who observe it should not be pacified with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that affect everyone if anti-racism is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is in order – Contemporary Black History Month.
