This commemorative month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an observance that was initiated as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a corporate feel, expanding to include events where African descendants are remunerated to talk to Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and supportive partnership. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests created a surge in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Holland.
The period has developed since that time, placing less emphasis on the narratives of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on notable African descendants in government, the arts, and social movements, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the way the celebration is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Little demonstrates how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we saw the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a elected representative feels emboldened to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are growing in Europe as a whole.
In the United States, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been brought, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the country. A effort to remove the history of people of color and experience from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the former president's first executive orders focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the prestigious establishment, accusing them of a organized and extensive campaign to change the national past” by depicting the United States “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the month represents how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is restricted to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the situation of the contemporary world. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is needed. A university professor, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for equal rights and acknowledgment in such moments of dejection and worry is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month entirely, assuming they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an period that has failed to deliver.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and tradition of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an framework that a considerable labor has gone into. 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 not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as various establishments are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around notable African descendants) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What use is simple recognition of the history when it ignores the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the street? Institutions who observe it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to minor insults, but faced with the threats that impact society if anti-racism is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Maybe an complete renaming is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
