The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it appears it’s time for a reassessment. As time has passed, an observance that started out as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between international African diaspora communities, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, broadening to incorporate functions where Black people are remunerated to address white audiences about “unconscious bias” and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s generated a rise in the enterprise of showcasing anti-racist commitment. Yet, that phase is now over. The wave has peaked, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Origins of Black History Month
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was created in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of celebration and reflection in the second week of February. Black History Month developed from this movement and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in autumn in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since those days, giving reduced attention to the histories of transatlantic enslavement and fights for racial justice, and more on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and extensively acknowledging the contribution Black people have made to mold society. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most frequently marked, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the month is celebrated is a indication of the current political situation. How it develops is a valuable example in how assimilation leads to dismantling: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to confront structural and organizational discrimination.
A Jarring Moment
Hardly anything shows how critical it is to reevaluate Black History Month as much as the current time in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a resurgent right in the guise of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the recent season we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. a prominent political figure, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are surging in the EU as a entirety.
In the US, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, repeatedly with positive outcomes, to the supreme judicial bodies of the state. A drive to remove the history of people of color and legacy from the records is ongoing. One of Donald Trump's early administrative commands focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, alleging that they of a coordinated and broad attempt to change the national past” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the celebration represents how little it can be effective if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or depoliticized commemorations of former accomplishments, rather than challenging the conditions of the contemporary world. It also shows how its restricted time span means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is required. A university professor, a prof at a learning establishment, expressed it perfectly when she raised concerns about the fleeting superficial actions of the observance. “The difficulty with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand efforts 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 observances such as Black History Month altogether, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an period that has not worked.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, inclusion and equity efforts, and certainly, even commercial engagements – constitute an framework that a considerable labor has been invested in. It is there not just to decay as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? Well, first, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is distributed through the year (as some institutions are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into educational programs. It would also be a era that does not shy away from governmental matters, and leaves space for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to express their concerns and stories. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the bygone era when it ignores the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the public spaces? Establishments who observe it should not be reassured with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and awareness of “microaggressions”, but challenged by the threats that affect everyone if fight against prejudice is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, urgent, and reactive. Perhaps an total re-identification is required – Contemporary Black History Month.
