The annual Black History observance serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an event that began as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has developed a corporate feel, growing to encompass events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Month
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Ireland and the Holland.
The period has developed since its inception, placing less emphasis on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and more on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with talks and cultural events. But the method the celebration is celebrated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it progresses is a good lesson in how co-option leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the point of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Troubling Time
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider 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 summer we saw the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a situation where a elected representative gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, far-right parties are growing in the EU as a complete entity.
In the US, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the state. A drive to remove African American heritage and legacy from the records is ongoing. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives aimed at the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the observance represents how minimally it can be effective if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the conditions of the contemporary world. It also reveals how its short period means that it is disconnected from the wider consistent effort that is needed. Denise Miller, a prof at a learning establishment, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the celebration. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just eliminate things like Black History Month completely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an period that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and heritage of campaigns for equality – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a considerable labor has gone into. 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 contemporary active Black History Month seem? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not evade political issues, and leaves space for people, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves simple recognition of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Organizations who mark it should not be comforted with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of “microaggressions”, but challenged by the risks that affect everyone if anti-racism is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and adaptive. Perhaps an total re-identification is required – Black History is Now Month.
