The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the political moment, so how do we revamp it?
We are in Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it appears it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has taken on a corporate feel, broadening to incorporate functions where individuals of African heritage are paid to address white audiences about hidden biases and “allyship”. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests created a surge in the industry of displaying cultural sensitivity. But even that moment has passed. The tide has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Celebration
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with seven days of remembrance and recognition in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the United States and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has transformed since its inception, placing less emphasis on the histories of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and greater focus on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in schools where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with lectures and artistic activities. But the method the celebration is commemorated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a instructive case in how appropriation leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to rethink Black History Month better than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform organization is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in the UK's past. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the Tory party, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a situation where a legislator feels emboldened to say that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. At the same time, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a entirety.
In the United States, a colossal assault against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to remove African American heritage and legacy from the records is under way. One of the political figure's first executive orders targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the prestigious establishment, alleging that they of a “concerted and widespread effort to change the national past” by depicting the United States “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the month illustrates how insufficiently it can be impactful if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the realities of the present. It also reveals how its short period means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is required. Denise Miller, a professor at an educational institution, articulated it most accurately when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the celebration. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “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
Figuring out how to alter, change and broaden actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just do away with things like Black History Month entirely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an period that has not worked.
However, regardless of the situation, 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 – form an foundation that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? Well, first, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is distributed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) included in educational programs. It would also be a era that does not shy away from political issues, and leaves space for citizens, particularly youth, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves mere awareness of the history when it doesn’t reckon with the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and awareness of subtle slights, but challenged by the dangers that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not taken seriously. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, critical, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is in order – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
