The annual Black History observance serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it appears it’s time for a reassessment. Over the years, an celebration that started out as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has adopted a corporate feel, growing to encompass functions where Black people are paid to address predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The surge has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this movement and was publicly established in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The period has developed since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and greater focus on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and broadly celebrating the input Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the method the celebration is commemorated is a reflection of the political moment. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the warmer months we saw the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels empowered to say that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the European continent as a whole.
In the America, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A campaign to remove African American heritage and experience from the historical documents is under way. One of the former president's early administrative commands aimed at the museum of African American legacy, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the observance symbolises how minimally it can be effective if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the present. It also reveals how its limited duration means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is needed. Denise Miller, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a inclination to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month altogether, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an period that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an infrastructure that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (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 not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not evade political issues, and provides room for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What use is simple recognition of the past when it ignores the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and responsive. It could be that an complete renaming is required – Black History is Now Month.
