This commemorative month is a reflection of the political moment, 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 reassessment. Over the years, an observance that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a corporate feel, growing to encompass functions where individuals of African heritage are compensated to speak with Caucasian groups about implicit prejudice and active solidarity. The 2020s Black Lives Matter protests sparked an increase in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The wave has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with seven days of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this campaign and was publicly established in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the UK, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has developed since that time, giving reduced attention to the histories of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and more on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the input Black people have made to influence the nation. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the celebration is observed is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has stymied the objective of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Disconcerting Period
Hardly anything shows how crucial it is to reconsider Black History Month more than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the guise of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the summer we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. a prominent political figure, the Black leader of the Conservative party, is a staunch adversary of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a elected representative feels empowered to state that “not seeing any white faces” in specific city neighborhoods is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are surging in Europe as a complete entity.
In the America, a colossal assault against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the nation. A campaign to erase African American heritage and narrative from the archives is ongoing. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the month represents how little it can be impactful if it is limited to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the present. It also reveals how its restricted time span means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is needed. Denise Miller, a prof at a learning establishment, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the month. “The difficulty with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a transient display 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 moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just do away with things like Black History Month entirely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are relics of an time that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an foundation that a lot of work has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a living breathing thing.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month seem? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as some institutions are already beginning to do), parts of its content (particularly around historic Black characters) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a period that does not avoid political issues, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the history when it fails to address the current situation of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Establishments who observe it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of “unconscious bias” and awareness of “microaggressions”, but confronted with the risks that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and reactive. Maybe an total re-identification is required – Contemporary Black History Month.
