Black History Month serves as a mirror of the political moment, so in what ways can we modernize it?
This is Black History Month in the UK, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an celebration that started out as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has developed a corporate feel, expanding to include events where individuals of African heritage are compensated to address white audiences about implicit prejudice and supportive partnership. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the industry of demonstrating racial awareness. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Month
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with seven days of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month grew out of this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Now it is celebrated not only in the North America in winter, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The month has developed since that time, placing less emphasis on the accounts of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and increasingly on influential individuals of color in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with discussions and heritage festivities. But the method the month is observed is a indication of the political moment. How it develops is a good lesson in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the Britain, a revitalized conservative movement in the form of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in the UK's past. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of the racial justice movement, and we are in a position where a legislator gains confidence to say that a lack of white people in specific city neighborhoods is a source of worry. At the same time, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in the European continent as a whole.
In the US, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been taken, frequently with success, to the top legal institutions of the state. A drive to erase African American heritage and experience from the archives is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands aimed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the prestigious establishment, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as inherently racist”.
In this context, the observance represents how insufficiently it can be influential if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or depoliticized festivities of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the current era. It also demonstrates how its short period means that it is disconnected from the broader ongoing work that is necessary. Denise Miller, a prof at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she voiced worries about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a transient display rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand actions for racial equality and recognition in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a urge to just do away with observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an time that has not worked.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – constitute an foundation that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is dispersed throughout the annual calendar (as various establishments are already beginning to do), elements of its material (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not shy away from governmental matters, and allows opportunity for people, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What use is mere awareness of the bygone era when it fails to address the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Institutions who observe it should not be pacified with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and awareness of minor insults, but faced with the threats that affect everyone if anti-racism is not taken seriously. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, pressing, and adaptive. Maybe an complete renaming is in order – Black History is Now Month.
