The annual Black History observance is a reflection of the prevailing political atmosphere, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and it feels like it’s time for a reassessment. Over the years, an observance that was initiated as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between global Black communities, has taken on a corporate feel, growing to encompass gatherings where African descendants are compensated to address predominantly white listeners about hidden biases and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade generated a rise in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The wave has crested, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Observance
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as a week dedicated to Negro history by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple 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 US and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland and the Holland.
The observance has evolved since those days, focusing less on the narratives of colonial slavery and struggles for equality, and greater focus on influential individuals of color in government, the arts, and social movements, and broadly celebrating the contribution 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 way the observance is celebrated is a manifestation of the contemporary political context. How it develops is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to erosion: the restructuring of Black History Month has impeded the point of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Disconcerting Period
Few things illustrate how crucial it is to reevaluate Black History Month better than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the United Kingdom, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform organization is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we observed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the person of color at the helm of the right-wing political group, is a firm opponent of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a member of parliament feels empowered to declare that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a cause for alarm. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in the EU as a complete entity.
In the America, a significant offensive against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the country. A drive to erase Black history and legacy from the historical documents is in progress. One of the former president's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a organized and extensive campaign to alter the country's historical narrative” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the celebration symbolises how insufficiently it can be influential if it is confined to either dutiful corporate observances, or stripped of political content celebrations of historical achievements, rather than addressing the conditions of the current era. It also reveals how its short period means that it is separated from the broader ongoing work that is needed. A university professor, a professor at University of Greenwich, expressed it perfectly when she expressed apprehension about the fleeting superficial actions of the celebration. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she commented, “is that it frequently results in that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Rethinking, But Not Jettisoning
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for racial equality and recognition in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are simply not fit for purpose, or are vestiges of an time that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and heritage of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – represent an framework that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the politics moves on (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a contemporary active Black History Month look like? To begin with, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is distributed through the year (as various establishments are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not shy away from governmental matters, and allows opportunity for citizens, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves mere awareness of the history when it fails to address the present reality of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and sensitivity to “microaggressions”, but challenged by the dangers that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made up-to-date, critical, and responsive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
