Black History Month is a reflection of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the Britain, and it appears it’s time for a re-evaluation. As time has passed, an event that was initiated as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has developed a commercial tone, growing to encompass events where individuals of African heritage are remunerated to address predominantly white listeners about “unconscious bias” and supportive partnership. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The wave has reached its height, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by African American historian 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. Today it is observed not only in the North America in February, but also in autumn in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and more on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the contribution Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the method the month is commemorated is a manifestation of the current political situation. How it develops is a instructive case in how co-option leads to weakening: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the objective of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the particular moment in which it falls this year. In the Britain, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform party is top in opinion ratings. In the summer we saw the largest far-right rally in British history. a prominent political figure, the person of color at the helm of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels empowered to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a source of worry. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are expanding in Europe as a complete entity.
In the US, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A effort to erase African American heritage and legacy from the archives is ongoing. One of the former president's early administrative commands focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration represents how minimally it can be influential if it is limited to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized festivities of historical achievements, rather than challenging the realities of the present. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is required. A university professor, a professor at an educational institution, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she commented, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a brief show rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand efforts for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a inclination to just do away with observances such as Black History Month entirely, assuming they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of activism for racial justice – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an foundation that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not merely to decline as the politics moves on (and in fact, declines), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed through the year (as certain organizations are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a time that does not shy away from governmental matters, and leaves space for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to share their anxieties and narratives. What value has basic knowledge of the history when it ignores the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Establishments who celebrate it should not be comforted with the passive language of implicit prejudice and alertness to “microaggressions”, but faced with the threats that affect everyone if anti-racism is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, critical, and reactive. Maybe an complete renaming is required – Contemporary Black History Month.
