Black History Month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an celebration that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has developed a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where African descendants are compensated to talk to white audiences about hidden biases and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The tide has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Background of Black History Observance
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. 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 February, but also in the tenth month in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since that time, placing less emphasis on the narratives of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with talks and cultural events. But the way the month is commemorated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to weakening: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Hardly anything shows how important it is to rethink Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the shape of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in British history. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a position where a member of parliament feels emboldened to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a source of worry. Meanwhile, far-right parties are growing in the European continent as a complete entity.
In the United States, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, frequently with success, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A campaign to scrub Black history and experience from the records is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration represents how little it can be influential if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or stripped of political content commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than addressing the situation of the contemporary world. It also shows how its short period means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is needed. A university professor, a prof at a learning establishment, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the month. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to alter, change and broaden actions for equal rights and acknowledgment in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a inclination to just eliminate things like Black History Month altogether, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are relics of an era that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and legacy of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an framework that a significant effort 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 seem? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out across all seasons (as some institutions are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) included in educational programs. It would also be a period that does not shy away from politics, and allows opportunity for people, particularly young people, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves simple recognition of the history when it fails to address the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Organizations who mark it should not be pacified with the passive language of hidden discrimination and alertness to subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that face all if anti-racism is not treated with importance. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and reactive. Perhaps an entire name rebrand is in order – Contemporary Black History Month.
