The annual Black History observance acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
This is Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a reassessment. Throughout its history, an celebration that began as a festivity and recollection of heritage, traditions and links between Black populations worldwide, has developed a business-like atmosphere, expanding to include events where Black people are compensated to talk to predominantly white listeners about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s created a surge in the business of showcasing anti-racist commitment. However, that period has concluded. The tide has reached its height, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with a week of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month evolved from this campaign and was officially launched in 1970. Currently it is marked not only in the United States and Canada in the second month, but also in the tenth month in the United Kingdom, Deutschland, Ireland and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The observance has evolved since those days, placing less emphasis on the histories of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact 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 way the month is commemorated is a manifestation of the political moment. How it progresses is a good lesson in how co-option leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has hindered the objective of it, which is to address systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how important it is to rethink Black History Month more than the particular moment in which it takes place this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the form of the Reform political group is top in opinion ratings. In the warmer months we witnessed the most significant ultra-conservative gathering in the history of Britain. Kemi Badenoch, the Black leader of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a situation where a member of parliament feels emboldened to declare that a lack of white people in parts of a city is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a whole.
In the America, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, often successfully, to the highest courts of the nation. A campaign to erase Black history and experience from the historical documents is ongoing. One of the former president's initial presidential directives targeted the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a “concerted and widespread effort to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as fundamentally prejudiced”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration illustrates how little it can be influential if it is limited to either dutiful corporate observances, or politically neutered commemorations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the situation of the current era. It also shows how its short period means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is required. An academic expert, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she voiced worries about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a fleeting performance rather than a driver of transformation.”
Reevaluating, Not Abandoning
Establishing how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a difficult task. There is a inclination to just discontinue events including Black History Month altogether, assuming they are no longer suitable, or are vestiges of an time that has been ineffective.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and legacy of racial movements – grassroots Black Lives Matter organisations, inclusion and equity efforts, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an foundation that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not only to deteriorate as the situation evolves (and in fact, deteriorates), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month appear as? Firstly, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is dispersed across all seasons (as some institutions are already commencing), parts of its content (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into school curriculums. It would also be a time that does not evade politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the present reality of far-right rallies in the public spaces? Institutions who celebrate it should not be pacified with the passive language of “unconscious bias” and alertness to minor insults, but challenged by the dangers that face all if anti-racism is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and adaptive. It could be that an entire name rebrand is necessary – Contemporary Black History Month.
