Black History Month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an observance that began as a festivity and recollection of history, culture and the connections between global Black communities, has adopted a corporate feel, broadening to incorporate events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to talk to white audiences about hidden biases and supportive partnership. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade sparked an increase in the enterprise of demonstrating racial awareness. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The period has transformed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and struggles for equality, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in politics, culture, and activism, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the observance is commemorated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Few things illustrate how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a resurgent right in the form of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the UK's past. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Tory party, is a firm opponent 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. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in Europe as a entirety.
In the US, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, often successfully, to the highest courts of the country. A drive to scrub African American heritage and narrative from the records is ongoing. One of the former president's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that 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 observance represents how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or depoliticized commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the situation of the current era. It also reveals how its short period means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. Denise Miller, a prof at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to alter, change and broaden initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just do away with things like Black History Month altogether, believing they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an time that has been ineffective.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an foundation that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month appear as? 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), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) included in school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not avoid politics, and leaves space for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has mere awareness of the past when it ignores the contemporary truth of extreme conservative demonstrations in the street? Organizations who celebrate it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the dangers that face all if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. In short, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and responsive. Perhaps an complete renaming is in order – Contemporary Black History Month.
