This commemorative month serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an event that began as a commemorative event of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has taken on a business-like atmosphere, growing to encompass events where African descendants are paid to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. But even that moment has passed. The tide has crested, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Originally observed in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by Black scholar Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the middle of February. Black History Month developed from this initiative and was officially launched in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in October in the Britain, Germany, Éire and the the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The period has evolved since that time, focusing less on the narratives of the slave trade across the Atlantic and struggles for equality, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in government, the arts, and social movements, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in schools where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the month is celebrated is a indication of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a good lesson in how appropriation leads to erosion: the transformation of Black History Month has stymied the objective of it, which is to address embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Little demonstrates how important it is to rethink Black History Month as much as the current time in which it occurs this year. In the Britain, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform party is ahead in surveys. In the summer 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 Tory party, is a staunch adversary of Black Lives Matter, and we are in a position where a elected representative gains confidence to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in parts of a city is a source of worry. Simultaneously, ultra-nationalist movements are growing in Europe as a entirety.
In the America, a massive attack against diversity initiatives and positive discrimination has been carried, frequently with success, to the highest courts of the nation. A campaign to scrub the history of people of color and narrative from the records is under way. One of Donald Trump's initial presidential directives focused on the institution dedicated to Black heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that they of a organized and extensive campaign to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the observance symbolises how little it can be impactful if it is restricted to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than challenging the realities of the current era. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is disconnected from the more extensive continuous action that is required. A university professor, a educator at a learning establishment, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the temporary “tokenism” of the month. “The issue with taking a tokenistic approach”, she wrote, “is that it often means that Black History Month becomes a fleeting performance rather than a catalyst for change.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend efforts for fair treatment and appreciation in such periods of dismay and anxiety is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just discontinue observances such as Black History Month completely, thinking they are no longer suitable, or are remnants of an time that has been ineffective.
But despite everything, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and heritage of campaigns for equality – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – constitute an foundation that a significant effort has been invested in. It is there not only to deteriorate as the situation evolves (and in fact, regresses), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month look like? Well, first, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is spread out throughout the annual calendar (as certain organizations are already commencing), elements of its material (particularly around prominent figures of color) included in school curriculums. It would also be a period that does not shy away from politics, and provides room for citizens, particularly young people, to share their anxieties and narratives. What purpose serves basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the present reality of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Establishments who observe it should not be comforted with the non-confrontational words of hidden discrimination and awareness of subtle slights, but faced with the dangers that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. Briefly stated, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and adaptive. Maybe an entire name rebrand is in order – Contemporary Black History Month.
