Black History Month is a reflection of the current political climate, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. As time has passed, an observance that started out as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate gatherings where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to speak with Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and supportive partnership. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests generated a rise in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The tide has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Celebration
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of 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, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since that time, placing less emphasis on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and civil rights battles, and more on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the celebration is observed is a reflection of the current political situation. How it develops is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the shape of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we observed the largest far-right rally in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a legislator feels empowered to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a source of worry. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in the EU as a complete entity.
In the United States, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A campaign to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the archives is in progress. One of the former president's first executive orders aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration symbolises how minimally it can be impactful if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the situation of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is required. A university professor, a professor at an educational institution, articulated it most accurately when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month completely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (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 more than a single focused period: something that is spread out across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What use is mere awareness of the past when it fails to address the present reality of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and sensitivity to subtle slights, but challenged by the risks that face all if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and reactive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
