This commemorative month is a reflection of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an celebration that began as a celebration and reminder of history, culture and the connections between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass gatherings where Black people are paid to talk to white audiences about hidden biases and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The surge has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was publicly established in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The observance has evolved since that time, placing less emphasis on the narratives of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and more on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the observance is observed is a reflection of the political moment. How it develops is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to weakening: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how important it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the current time in which it falls this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the warmer months we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. the Conservative leader, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a elected representative feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a cause for alarm. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a whole.
In the US, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the state. A campaign to erase Black history and legacy from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the political figure's early administrative commands focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by representing the nation “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the month symbolises how minimally it can be effective if it is limited to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of historical achievements, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is necessary. An academic expert, a educator at University of Greenwich, articulated it most accurately when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she wrote, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to alter, change and broaden actions for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just eliminate events including Black History Month completely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an era that has not worked.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of campaigns for equality – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate 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 more than a single focused period: something that is spread out through the year (as certain organizations are already starting to implement), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not avoid governmental matters, and provides room for individuals, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves simple recognition of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the current situation of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the neutral terminology of implicit prejudice and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and adaptive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
