The annual Black History observance acts as a gauge of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an observance that started out as a festivity and recollection of history, culture and the connections between global Black communities, has adopted a commercial tone, growing to encompass events where Black people are remunerated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests created a surge in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Celebration
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the UK, Deutschland, Ireland and the Holland.
The observance has evolved since its inception, focusing less on the accounts of the slave trade across the Atlantic and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the month is commemorated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it evolves is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the Britain, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the warmer months we saw the largest far-right rally in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a elected representative gains confidence to state that a lack of white people in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. Meanwhile, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a complete entity.
In the US, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been brought, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the state. A drive to erase African American heritage and experience from the archives is in progress. One of the political figure's first executive orders aimed at the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the month illustrates how minimally it can be effective if it is restricted to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at an educational institution, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a brief show rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand actions for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a urge to just do away with events including Black History Month entirely, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an period that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and tradition of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an foundation that a considerable labor has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not evade politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has simple recognition of the history when it fails to address the current situation of far-right rallies in the street? Establishments who mark it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the dangers that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and responsive. It could be that an complete renaming is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
