The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the Britain, and it appears it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that started out as a commemorative event of history, culture and the connections between international African diaspora communities, has adopted a commercial tone, expanding to include functions where African descendants are paid to address Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests generated a rise in the enterprise of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Background of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month grew out of this campaign 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, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has transformed since those days, focusing less on the accounts of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the celebration is observed is a indication of the current political situation. How it progresses is a good lesson in how co-option leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has impeded the purpose of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a position where a legislator feels empowered to state that a lack of white people in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the America, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the country. A campaign to remove Black history and experience from the records is under way. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by depicting the United States “as inherently racist”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the realities of the present. It also reveals how its limited duration means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at University of Greenwich, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The issue with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand actions for racial equality and recognition in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month altogether, believing they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an period that has failed to deliver.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an framework that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not merely to decline as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is spread out across all seasons (as some institutions are already beginning to do), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and leaves space for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What value has basic knowledge of the bygone era when it fails to address the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Organizations who celebrate it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but faced with the dangers that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and reactive. It could be that an total re-identification is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
