This commemorative month serves as a mirror of the prevailing political atmosphere, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an event that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, expanding to include events where individuals of African heritage are paid to address white audiences about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The surge has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The month has evolved since those days, focusing less on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and widely honoring the input Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the manner the month is commemorated is a manifestation of the current political situation. How it evolves is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to weakening: the transformation of Black History Month has impeded the objective of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the current time in which it occurs this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the summer we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, 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. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are surging in the European continent as a entirety.
In the US, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the highest courts of the state. A effort to scrub the history of people of color and experience from the records is ongoing. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by representing the nation “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the observance represents how minimally it can be influential if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the situation of the present. It also demonstrates how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. A university professor, a educator at an educational institution, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she commented, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month becomes a transient display 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 periods of dismay and anxiety is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month entirely, assuming they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of activism for racial justice – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an infrastructure that a significant effort has been invested in. 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 contemporary active Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as various establishments are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What value has basic knowledge of the past when it fails to address the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Organizations who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and responsive. It could be that an complete renaming is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
