The annual Black History observance serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. Over the years, an celebration that began as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where individuals of African heritage are compensated to speak with predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The surge has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance 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 created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of celebration and reflection 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 winter, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The month has transformed since that time, focusing less on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and struggles for equality, and increasingly on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the way the observance is observed is a manifestation of the current political situation. How it progresses is a valuable example in how co-option leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to address structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a legislator feels empowered to say that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a cause for alarm. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the EU as a complete entity.
In the America, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A campaign to scrub the history of people of color and narrative from the historical documents is in progress. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders aimed at the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
In this context, the observance represents how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered festivities of historical achievements, rather than confronting the realities of the present. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. Denise Miller, a educator at University of Greenwich, put it best when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with observances such as Black History Month completely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and heritage of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – constitute an foundation that a considerable labor has been invested in. 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 contemporary active Black History Month appear as? To begin with, 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 prominent figures of color) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not avoid political issues, and provides room for people, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the history when it ignores the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Organizations who celebrate it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the risks that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and reactive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
