This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an celebration that was initiated as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate gatherings where Black people are remunerated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The surge has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection in the February's second week. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the North America in February, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The observance has developed since that time, focusing less on the histories of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the way the celebration is celebrated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it evolves is a valuable example in how co-option leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the warmer months we witnessed 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 firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels emboldened to state that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a source of worry. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the European continent as a whole.
In the United States, a colossal assault against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A drive to erase Black history and legacy from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the political figure's first executive orders targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration represents how minimally it can be impactful if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content festivities of historical achievements, rather than challenging the situation of the current era. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is necessary. Denise Miller, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the observance. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just do away with events including Black History Month completely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an era that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an foundation that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out throughout the annual calendar (as some institutions are already starting to implement), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for citizens, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the bygone era when it ignores the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Establishments who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and alertness to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that impact society if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. It could be that an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.
