Black History Month is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. Throughout its history, an event that began as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where individuals of African heritage are paid to speak with Caucasian groups about “unconscious bias” and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what increasing understanding is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in October in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The month has transformed since those days, placing less emphasis on the accounts of the slave trade across the Atlantic and civil rights battles, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in politics, culture, and activism, and widely honoring the impact 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 way the celebration is commemorated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a good lesson in how co-option leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to address structural and organizational discrimination.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the specific period in which it falls this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the summer we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a member of parliament feels empowered to say that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a reason for concern. At the same time, extreme conservative groups are expanding in Europe as a whole.
In the US, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A drive to remove Black history and experience from the historical documents is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
Against this backdrop, the month represents how minimally it can be influential if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered festivities of historical achievements, rather than addressing the realities of the present. It also reveals how its short period means that it is detached from the more extensive continuous action that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to alter, change and broaden efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a temptation to just do away with events including Black History Month entirely, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an era that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and legacy of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, DEI programs, and certainly, even commercial engagements – represent an foundation that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not merely to decline as the situation evolves (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? To begin with, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as various establishments are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not evade governmental matters, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly youth, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has simple recognition of the bygone era when it ignores the present reality of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Establishments who observe it should not be pacified with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to minor insults, but challenged by the threats that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, critical, and reactive. Perhaps an complete renaming is required – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
