Black History Month serves as a mirror of the political moment, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an event that began as a celebration and reminder of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has developed a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include functions where African descendants are paid to talk to predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the enterprise of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Background of Black History Month
Originally observed in the US and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the North America in February, but also in the tenth month in the UK, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The period has transformed since its inception, placing less emphasis on the accounts of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the way the celebration is commemorated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a instructive case in how assimilation leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the purpose of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how important it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a resurgent right in the shape of the Reform organization is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we saw the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a place where a elected representative gains confidence to state that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a whole.
In the America, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been taken, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the state. A drive to erase Black history and legacy from the records is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives targeted the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by representing the nation “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration illustrates how minimally it can be influential if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content festivities of historical achievements, rather than addressing the conditions of the contemporary world. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is needed. Denise Miller, a educator at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The problem with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it typically leads to that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Establishing how to adjust, modify and expand initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an period that has been ineffective.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, inclusion and equity efforts, and certainly, even commercial engagements – form an foundation that a considerable labor has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? Well, first, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is spread out throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already beginning to do), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not avoid politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What value has simple recognition of the past when it doesn’t reckon with the contemporary truth of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and alertness to subtle slights, but faced with the risks that face all if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and responsive. Perhaps an total re-identification is in order – Contemporary Black History Month.
